Constraints On Reference Picture Lists

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for processing of video are described. The processing may include video encoding, decoding, or transcoding. One example video processing method includes performing a conversion between a video including one or more pictures including one or more subpictures and a bitstream of the video. The bitstream conforms to a format rule that specifies that a subpicture cannot be a random access type of subpicture in response to the subpicture not being a leading subpicture of an intra random access point subpicture. The leading subpicture precedes the intra random access point subpicture in output order.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US2021/027963 filed on Apr. 19, 2021, which claims the priorityto and benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/012,713filed on Apr. 20, 2020. All the aforementioned patent applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to image and video coding and decoding.

BACKGROUND

Digital video accounts for the largest bandwidth use on the internet andother digital communication networks. As the number of connected userdevices capable of receiving and displaying video increases, it isexpected that the bandwidth demand for digital video usage will continueto grow.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure discloses techniques that can be used by videoencoders and decoders for processing coded representation of video usingvarious rules of syntax.

In one example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising oneor more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and a bitstream ofthe video, wherein the bitstream conforms to a format rule thatspecifies that a subpicture cannot be a random access type of subpicturein response to the subpicture not being a leading subpicture of an intrarandom access point subpicture, and wherein the leading subpictureprecedes the intra random access point subpicture in output order.

In another example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising oneor more pictures comprising a plurality of subpictures and a bitstreamof the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to a format rule thatspecifies that a first subpicture precedes a second subpicture in arecovery point picture in an output order in response to: the firstsubpicture and the second picture having a same layer identifier of anetwork abstraction layer (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index, andthe first subpicture preceding the second subpicture in a decodingorder.

In another example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising acurrent picture comprising a current subpicture comprising a currentslice and a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to aformat rule, wherein the format rule specifies an order by whichpictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein the format ruledisallows an entry in a reference picture list of the current slice fromincluding a first picture that precedes, according to a first order, asecond picture that precedes, according to a second order, the currentpicture, wherein the second picture comprises an intra random accesspoint subpicture having a same layer identifier of a network abstractionunit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as the current subpicture,and wherein the current subpicture is a clean random access subpicture.

In another example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising acurrent picture comprising a current subpicture comprising a currentslice and a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to aformat rule, wherein the format rule specifies an order by whichpictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein the format ruledisallows an active entry in a reference picture list of the currentslice from including a first picture that precedes a second pictureaccording to a first order, wherein the second picture comprises anintra random access point subpicture having a same layer identifier of anetwork abstraction unit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as thecurrent subpicture, and wherein the current subpicture follows the intrarandom access point subpicture in a second order.

In another example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising acurrent picture comprising a current subpicture comprising a currentslice and a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to aformat rule, wherein the format rule specifies an order by whichpictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein the format ruledisallows an entry in a reference picture list of the current slice fromincluding a first picture that precedes a second picture according to afirst order or a second order, wherein the second picture comprises anintra random access point subpicture having zero or more associatedleading subpictures and having a same layer identifier of a networkabstraction unit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as the currentsubpicture, and wherein the current subpicture follows the intra randomaccess point subpicture and the zero or more associated leadingsubpictures in the first order and the second order.

In another example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising acurrent picture comprising a current subpicture comprising a currentslice and a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to aformat rule that specifies that in response to the current subpicturebeing a random access decodable leading subpicture, an active entry of areference picture list of the current slice is disallowed from includingany one or more of: a first picture including a random access skippedleading subpicture having a same subpicture index as that of the currentsubpicture, and a second picture that precedes a third picture includingan intra random access point subpicture associated with the randomaccess decodable leading subpicture in a decoding order.

In another example aspect, a video processing method is disclosed. Themethod includes performing a conversion between a video comprising oneor more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and a codedrepresentation of the video. The coded representation conforms to aformat rule that specifies that the one or more pictures comprising oneor more subpictures are included in the coded representation accordingto network abstraction layer (NAL) units, wherein a type NAL unit isindicated in the coded representation includes a coded slice of aparticular type of picture or a coded slice of a particular type of asubpicture.

In another example aspect, another video processing method is disclosed.The method includes performing a conversion between a video comprisingone or more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and a codedrepresentation of the video, wherein the coded representation conformsto a format rule that specifies that two neighboring subpictures withdifferent network abstraction layer unit types will have a sameindication of subpictures being treated as pictures flag.

In another example aspect, another video processing method is disclosed.The method includes performing a conversion between a video comprisingone or more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and a codedrepresentation of the video, wherein the coded representation conformsto a format rule that defines an order of a first type of subpicture anda second type of subpicture, wherein the first subpicture is a trailingsubpicture or a leading subpicture or a random access skipped leading(RASL) subpicture type and the second subpicture is of the RASL type ora random access decodable leading (RADL) type or an instantaneousdecoding refresh (IDR) type or a gradual decoding refresh (GDR) typesubpicture.

In another example aspect, another video processing method is disclosed.The method includes performing a conversion between a video comprisingone or more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and a codedrepresentation of the video, wherein the coded representation conformsto a format rule that defines a condition under which a first type ofsubpicture is allowed or disallowed to occur with a second type ofsubpicture.

In another example aspect, another video processing method is disclosed.The method includes performing a conversion between a video comprisingone or more video pictures comprising one or more subpictures and acoded representation of the video; wherein the coded representationcomprises one or more layers of video pictures in an order according toa rule

In yet another example aspect, a video encoder apparatus is disclosed.The video encoder comprises a processor configured to implementabove-described methods.

In yet another example aspect, a video decoder apparatus is disclosed.The video decoder comprises a processor configured to implementabove-described methods.

In yet another example aspect, a computer readable medium having codestored thereon is disclose. The code embodies one of the methodsdescribed herein in the form of processor-executable code.

These, and other, features are described throughout the presentdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of raster-scan slice partitioning of a picture,where the picture is divided into 12 tiles and 3 raster-scan slices.

FIG. 2 shows an example of rectangular slice partitioning of a picture,where the picture is divided into 24 tiles (6 tile columns and 4 tilerows) and 9 rectangular slices.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a picture partitioned into tiles andrectangular slices, where the picture is divided into 4 tiles (2 tilecolumns and 2 tile rows) and 4 rectangular slices.

FIG. 4 shows a picture that is partitioned into 15 tiles, 24 slices and24 subpictures.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example video processing system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a video processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for an example method of video processing.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram that illustrates a video coding system inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram that illustrates an encoder in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram that illustrates a decoder in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11 to 16 are flowcharts for example methods of video processing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Section headings are used in the present disclosure for ease ofunderstanding and do not limit the applicability of techniques andembodiments disclosed in each section only to that section. Furthermore,H.266 terminology is used in some description only for ease ofunderstanding and not for limiting scope of the disclosed techniques. Assuch, the techniques described herein are applicable to other videocodec protocols and designs also. In the present disclosure, editingchanges are shown to text by open and close double brackets (e.g., [[]]) with deleted text in between the double brackets indicatingcancelled text and boldface italic indicating added text, with respectto the current draft of the VVC specification.

1. INTRODUCTION

This disclosure is related to video coding technologies. Specifically,it is about the definitions of subpicture types and the relationships interms of decoding order, output order, and prediction relationshipbetween different types of subpictures, in both single-layer andmulti-layer contexts. The key is to clearly specify the meaning of mixedsubpicture types within a picture through a set of constraints ondecoding order, output order, and prediction relationship. The ideas maybe applied individually or in various combination, to any video codingstandard or non-standard video codec that supports multi-layer videocoding, e.g., the being-developed Versatile Video Coding (VVC).

2. ABBREVIATIONS

APS Adaptation Parameter Set

AU Access Unit

AUD Access Unit Delimiter

AVC Advanced Video Coding

CLVS Coded Layer Video Sequence

CPB Coded Picture Buffer

CRA Clean Random Access

CTU Coding Tree Unit

CVS Coded Video Sequence

CVSS Coded Video Sequence Start

DCI Decoding Capability Information

DPB Decoded Picture Buffer

EOB End Of Bitstream

EOS End Of Sequence

FD Filler Data

GDR Gradual Decoding Refresh

HEVC High Efficiency Video Coding

HRD Hypothetical Reference Decoder

IDR Instantaneous Decoding Refresh

IRAP Intra Random Access Point

JEM Joint Exploration Model

LTRP Long Term Reference Picture

MCTS Motion-Constrained Tile Sets

NAL Network Abstraction Layer

NUT NAL Unit Type

OLS Output Layer Set

PH Picture Header

PPS Picture Parameter Set

PTL Profile, Tier and Level

PU Picture Unit

RADL Random Access Decodable Leading (Picture)

RAP Random Access Point

RASL Random Access Skipped Leading (Picture)

RB SP Raw Byte Sequence Payload

RPL Reference Picture List

RSV Reserved

SEI Supplemental Enhancement Information

SPS Sequence Parameter Set

STRP Short Term Reference Picture

STSA Step-wise Temporal Sublayer Access

SVC Scalable Video Coding

VCL Video Coding Layer

VPS Video Parameter Set

VTM VVC Test Model

VUI Video Usability Information

VVC Versatile Video Coding

3. INITIAL DISCUSSION

Video coding standards have evolved primarily through the development ofthe well-known International Telecommunication Union—TelecommunicationStandardization Sector (ITU-T) and International Organization forStandardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)standards. The ITU-T produced H.261 and H.263, ISO/IEC produced MovingPicture Experts Group (MPEG)-1 and MPEG-4 Visual, and the twoorganizations jointly produced the H.262/MPEG-2 Video and H.264/MPEG-4Advanced Video Coding (AVC) and H.265/HEVC standards. Since H.262, thevideo coding standards are based on the hybrid video coding structurewherein temporal prediction plus transform coding are utilized. Toexplore the future video coding technologies beyond HEVC, the JointVideo Exploration Team (JVET) was founded by Video Coding Experts Group(VCEG) and MPEG jointly in 2015. Since then, many new methods have beenadopted by JVET and put into the reference software named JointExploration Model (JEM). The JVET meeting is concurrently held onceevery quarter, and the new coding standard is targeting at 50% bitratereduction as compared to HEVC. The new video coding standard wasofficially named as Versatile Video Coding (VVC) in the April 2018 JVETmeeting, and the first version of VVC test model (VTM) was released atthat time. As there are continuous effort contributing to VVCstandardization, new coding techniques are being adopted to the VVCstandard in every JVET meeting. The VVC working draft and test model VTMare then updated after every meeting. The VVC project is now aiming fortechnical completion (FDIS) at the July 2020 meeting.

3.1. Picture Partitioning Schemes in HEVC

HEVC includes four different picture partitioning schemes, namelyregular slices, dependent slices, tiles, and Wavefront ParallelProcessing (WPP), which may be applied for Maximum Transfer Unit (MTU)size matching, parallel processing, and reduced end-to-end delay.

Regular slices are similar as in H.264/AVC. Each regular slice isencapsulated in its own NAL unit, and in-picture prediction (intrasample prediction, motion information prediction, coding modeprediction) and entropy coding dependency across slice boundaries aredisabled. Thus a regular slice can be reconstructed independently fromother regular slices within the same picture (though there may stillhave interdependencies due to loop filtering operations).

The regular slice is the only tool that can be used for parallelizationthat is also available, in virtually identical form, in H.264/AVC.Regular slices based parallelization does not require muchinter-processor or inter-core communication (except for inter-processoror inter-core data sharing for motion compensation when decoding apredictively coded picture, which is typically much heavier thaninter-processor or inter-core data sharing due to in-pictureprediction). However, for the same reason, the use of regular slices canincur substantial coding overhead due to the bit cost of the sliceheader and due to the lack of prediction across the slice boundaries.Further, regular slices (in contrast to the other tools mentioned below)also serve as the key mechanism for bitstream partitioning to match MTUsize requirements, due to the in-picture independence of regular slicesand that each regular slice is encapsulated in its own NAL unit. In manycases, the goal of parallelization and the goal of MTU size matchingplace contradicting demands to the slice layout in a picture. Therealization of this situation led to the development of theparallelization tools mentioned below.

Dependent slices have short slice headers and allow partitioning of thebitstream at treeblock boundaries without breaking any in-pictureprediction. Basically, dependent slices provide fragmentation of regularslices into multiple NAL units, to provide reduced end-to-end delay byallowing a part of a regular slice to be sent out before the encoding ofthe entire regular slice is finished.

In WPP, the picture is partitioned into single rows of coding treeblocks (CTBs). Entropy decoding and prediction are allowed to use datafrom CTBs in other partitions. Parallel processing is possible throughparallel decoding of CTB rows, where the start of the decoding of a CTBrow is delayed by two CTBs, so to ensure that data related to a CTBabove and to the right of the subject CTB is available before thesubject CTB is being decoded. Using this staggered start (which appearslike a wavefront when represented graphically), parallelization ispossible with up to as many processors/cores as the picture contains CTBrows. Because in-picture prediction between neighboring treeblock rowswithin a picture is permitted, the required inter-processor/inter-corecommunication to enable in-picture prediction can be substantial. TheWPP partitioning does not result in the production of additional NALunits compared to when it is not applied, thus WPP is not a tool for MTUsize matching. However, if MTU size matching is required, regular slicescan be used with WPP, with certain coding overhead.

Tiles define horizontal and vertical boundaries that partition a pictureinto tile columns and rows. Tile column runs from the top of a pictureto the bottom of the picture. Likewise, tile row runs from the left ofthe picture to the right of the picture. The number of tiles in apicture can be derived simply as number of tile columns multiply bynumber of tile rows.

The scan order of CTBs is changed to be local within a tile (in theorder of a CTB raster scan of a tile), before decoding the top-left CTBof the next tile in the order of tile raster scan of a picture. Similarto regular slices, tiles break in-picture prediction dependencies aswell as entropy decoding dependencies. However, they do not need to beincluded into individual NAL units (same as WPP in this regard); hencetiles cannot be used for MTU size matching. Each tile can be processedby one processor/core, and the inter-processor/inter-core communicationrequired for in-picture prediction between processing units decodingneighboring tiles is limited to conveying the shared slice header incases a slice is spanning more than one tile, and loop filtering relatedsharing of reconstructed samples and metadata. When more than one tileor WPP segment is included in a slice, the entry point byte offset foreach tile or WPP segment other than the first one in the slice issignaled in the slice header.

For simplicity, restrictions on the application of the four differentpicture partitioning schemes have been specified in HEVC. A given codedvideo sequence cannot include both tiles and wavefronts for most of theprofiles specified in HEVC. For each slice and tile, either or both ofthe following conditions must be fulfilled: 1) all coded treeblocks in aslice belong to the same tile; 2) all coded treeblocks in a tile belongto the same slice. Finally, a wavefront segment contains exactly one CTBrow, and when WPP is in use, if a slice starts within a CTB row, it mustend in the same CTB row.

A recent amendment to HEVC is specified in the Joint Collaborative Teamon Video Coding (JCT-VC) output document JCTVC-AC1005, J. Boyce, A.Ramasubramonian, R. Skupin, G. J. Sullivan, A. Tourapis, Y.-K. Wang(editors), “HEVC Additional Supplemental Enhancement Information (Draft4),” Oct. 24, 2017, publicly available herein:http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/documents/29_Macau/wg11/JCTVC-AC1005-v2.zip.With this amendment included, HEVC specifies three MCTS-related SEImessages, namely temporal MCTSs SEI message, MCTSs extractioninformation set SEI message, and MCTSs extraction information nestingSEI message.

The temporal MCTSs SEI message indicates existence of MCTSs in thebitstream and signals the MCTSs. For each MCTS, motion vectors arerestricted to point to full-sample locations inside the MCTS and tofractional-sample locations that require only full-sample locationsinside the MCTS for interpolation, and the usage of motion vectorcandidates for temporal motion vector prediction derived from blocksoutside the MCTS is disallowed. This way, each MCTS may be independentlydecoded without the existence of tiles not included in the MCTS.

The MCTSs extraction information sets SEI message provides supplementalinformation that can be used in the MCTS sub-bitstream extraction(specified as part of the semantics of the SEI message) to generate aconforming bitstream for an MCTS set. The information consists of anumber of extraction information sets, each defining a number of MCTSsets and containing RBSP bytes of the replacement VPSs, SPSs, and PPSsto be used during the MCTS sub-bitstream extraction process. Whenextracting a sub-bitstream according to the MCTS sub-bitstreamextraction process, parameter sets (VPSs, SPSs, and PPSs) need to berewritten or replaced, slice headers need to be slightly updated becauseone or all of the slice address related syntax elements (includingfirst_slice_segment_in_pic_flag and slice_segment_address) typicallywould need to have different values.

3.2. Partitioning of Pictures in VVC

In VVC, A picture is divided into one or more tile rows and one or moretile columns. A tile is a sequence of CTUs that covers a rectangularregion of a picture. The CTUs in a tile are scanned in raster scan orderwithin that tile.

A slice consists of an integer number of complete tiles or an integernumber of consecutive complete CTU rows within a tile of a picture.

Two modes of slices are supported, namely the raster-scan slice mode andthe rectangular slice mode. In the raster-scan slice mode, a slicecontains a sequence of complete tiles in a tile raster scan of apicture. In the rectangular slice mode, a slice contains either a numberof complete tiles that collectively form a rectangular region of thepicture or a number of consecutive complete CTU rows of one tile thatcollectively form a rectangular region of the picture. Tiles within arectangular slice are scanned in tile raster scan order within therectangular region corresponding to that slice.

A subpicture contains one or more slices that collectively cover arectangular region of a picture.

FIG. 1 shows an example of raster-scan slice partitioning of a picture,where the picture is divided into 12 tiles and 3 raster-scan slices.

FIG. 2 shows an example of rectangular slice partitioning of a picture,where the picture is divided into 24 tiles (6 tile columns and 4 tilerows) and 9 rectangular slices.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a picture partitioned into tiles andrectangular slices, where the picture is divided into 4 tiles (2 tilecolumns and 2 tile rows) and 4 rectangular slices.

FIG. 4 shows an example of subpicture partitioning of a picture, where apicture is partitioned into 18 tiles, 12 on the left-hand side eachcovering one slice of 4 by 4 CTUs and 6 tiles on the right-hand sideeach covering 2 vertically-stacked slices of 2 by 2 CTUs, altogetherresulting in 24 slices and 24 subpictures of varying dimensions (eachslice is a subpicture).

3.3. Picture Resolution Change within a Sequence

In AVC and HEVC, the spatial resolution of pictures cannot change unlessa new sequence using a new SPS starts, with an IRAP picture. VVC enablespicture resolution change within a sequence at a position withoutencoding an IRAP picture, which is always intra-coded. This feature issometimes referred to as reference picture resampling (RPR), as thefeature needs resampling of a reference picture used for interprediction when that reference picture has a different resolution thanthe current picture being decoded.

The scaling ratio is restricted to be larger than or equal to ½ (2 timesdownsampling from the reference picture to the current picture), andless than or equal to 8 (8 times upsampling). Three sets of resamplingfilters with different frequency cutoffs are specified to handle variousscaling ratios between a reference picture and the current picture. Thethree sets of resampling filters are applied respectively for thescaling ratio ranging from 1/2 to 1/1.75, from 1/1.75 to 1/1.25, andfrom 1/1.25 to 8. Each set of resampling filters has 16 phases for lumaand 32 phases for chroma which is same to the case of motioncompensation interpolation filters. Actually the normal MC interpolationprocess is a special case of the resampling process with scaling ratioranging from 1/1.25 to 8. The horizontal and vertical scaling ratios arederived based on picture width and height, and the left, right, top andbottom scaling offsets specified for the reference picture and thecurrent picture.

Other aspects of the VVC design for support of this feature that aredifferent from HEVC include: i) The picture resolution and thecorresponding conformance window are signaled in the PPS instead of inthe SPS, while in the SPS the maximum picture resolution is signaled.ii) For a single-layer bitstream, each picture store (a slot in the DPBfor storage of one decoded picture) occupies the buffer size as requiredfor storing a decoded picture having the maximum picture resolution.

3.4. Scalable Video Coding (SVC) in General and in VVC

Scalable video coding (SVC, sometimes also just referred to asscalability in video coding) refers to video coding in which a baselayer (BL), sometimes referred to as a reference layer (RL), and one ormore scalable enhancement layers (ELs) are used. In SVC, the base layercan carry video data with a base level of quality. The one or moreenhancement layers can carry additional video data to support, forexample, higher spatial, temporal, and/or signal-to-noise (SNR) levels.Enhancement layers may be defined relative to a previously encodedlayer. For example, a bottom layer may serve as a BL, while a top layermay serve as an EL. Middle layers may serve as either ELs or RLs, orboth. For example, a middle layer (e.g., a layer that is neither thelowest layer nor the highest layer) may be an EL for the layers belowthe middle layer, such as the base layer or any intervening enhancementlayers, and at the same time serve as a RL for one or more enhancementlayers above the middle layer. Similarly, in the Multiview or threedimensional (3D) extension of the HEVC standard, there may be multipleviews, and information of one view may be utilized to code (e.g., encodeor decode) the information of another view (e.g., motion estimation,motion vector prediction and/or other redundancies).

In SVC, the parameters used by the encoder or the decoder are groupedinto parameter sets based on the coding level (e.g., video-level,sequence-level, picture-level, slice level, etc.) in which they may beutilized. For example, parameters that may be utilized by one or morecoded video sequences of different layers in the bitstream may beincluded in a video parameter set (VP S), and parameters that areutilized by one or more pictures in a coded video sequence may beincluded in a sequence parameter set (SPS). Similarly, parameters thatare utilized by one or more slices in a picture may be included in apicture parameter set (PPS), and other parameters that are specific to asingle slice may be included in a slice header. Similarly, theindication of which parameter set(s) a particular layer is using at agiven time may be provided at various coding levels.

Thanks to the support of reference picture resampling (RPR) in VVC,support of a bitstream containing multiple layers, e.g., two layers withstandard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) resolutions in VVC canbe designed without the need any additional signal-processing-levelcoding tool, as upsampling needed for spatial scalability support canjust use the RPR upsampling filter. Nevertheless, high-level syntaxchanges (compared to not supporting scalability) are needed forscalability support. Scalability support is specified in VVC version 1.Different from the scalability supports in any earlier video codingstandards, including in extensions of AVC and HEVC, the design of VVCscalability has been made friendly to single-layer decoder designs asmuch as possible. The decoding capability for multi-layer bitstreams arespecified in a manner as if there were only a single layer in thebitstream. E.g., the decoding capability, such as DPB size, is specifiedin a manner that is independent of the number of layers in the bitstreamto be decoded. Basically, a decoder designed for single-layer bitstreamsdoes not need much change to be able to decode multi-layer bitstreams.Compared to the designs of multi-layer extensions of AVC and HEVC, thehigh level syntax (HLS) aspects have been significantly simplified atthe sacrifice of some flexibilities. For example, an IRAP AU is requiredto contain a picture for each of the layers present in the CVS.

3.5. Random Access and its Supports in HEVC and VVC

Random access refers to starting access and decoding of a bitstream froma picture that is not the first picture of the bitstream in decodingorder. To support tuning in and channel switching in broadcast/multicastand multiparty video conferencing, seeking in local playback andstreaming, as well as stream adaptation in streaming, the bitstreamneeds to include frequent random access points, which are typicallyintra coded pictures but may also be inter-coded pictures (e.g., in thecase of gradual decoding refresh).

HEVC includes signaling of intra random access points (IRAP) pictures inthe NAL unit header, through NAL unit types. Three types of IRAPpictures are supported, namely instantaneous decoder refresh (MR), cleanrandom access (CRA), and broken link access (BLA) pictures. MR picturesare constraining the inter-picture prediction structure to not referenceany picture before the current group-of-pictures (GOP), conventionallyreferred to as closed-GOP random access points. CRA pictures are lessrestrictive by allowing certain pictures to reference pictures beforethe current GOP, all of which are discarded in case of a random access.CRA pictures are conventionally referred to as open-GOP random accesspoints. BLA pictures usually originate from splicing of two bitstreamsor part thereof at a CRA picture, e.g., during stream switching. Toenable better systems usage of IRAP pictures, altogether six differentNAL units are defined to signal the properties of the IRAP pictures,which can be used to better match the stream access point types asdefined in the ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF), which are utilizedfor random access support in dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP(DASH).

VVC supports three types of IRAP pictures, two types of MR pictures (onetype with or the other type without associated RADL pictures) and onetype of CRA picture. These are basically the same as in HEVC. The BLApicture types in HEVC are not included in VVC, mainly due to tworeasons: i) The basic functionality of BLA pictures can be realized byCRA pictures plus the end of sequence NAL unit, the presence of whichindicates that the subsequent picture starts a new CVS in a single-layerbitstream. ii) There was a desire in specifying less NAL unit types thanHEVC during the development of VVC, as indicated by the use of fiveinstead of six bits for the NAL unit type field in the NAL unit header.

Another key difference in random access support between VVC and HEVC isthe support of GDR in a more normative manner in VVC. In GDR, thedecoding of a bitstream can start from an inter-coded picture andalthough at the beginning not the entire picture region can be correctlydecoded but after a number of pictures the entire picture region wouldbe correct. AVC and HEVC also support GDR, using the recovery point SEImessage for signaling of GDR random access points and the recoverypoints. In VVC, a new NAL unit type is specified for indication of GDRpictures and the recovery point is signaled in the picture header syntaxstructure. A CVS and a bitstream are allowed to start with a GDRpicture. This means that it is allowed for an entire bitstream tocontain only inter-coded pictures without a single intra-coded picture.The main benefit of specifying GDR support this way is to provide aconforming behavior for GDR. GDR enables encoders to smooth the bit rateof a bitstream by distributing intra-coded slices or blocks in multiplepictures as opposed intra coding entire pictures, thus allowingsignificant end-to-end delay reduction, which is considered moreimportant nowadays than before as ultralow delay applications likewireless display, online gaming, drone based applications become morepopular.

Another GDR related feature in VVC is the virtual boundary signaling.The boundary between the refreshed region (i.e., the correctly decodedregion) and the unrefreshed region at a picture between a GDR pictureand its recovery point can be signaled as a virtual boundary, and whensignaled, in-loop filtering across the boundary would not be applied,thus a decoding mismatch for some samples at or near the boundary wouldnot occur. This can be useful when the application determines to displaythe correctly decoded regions during the GDR process.

IRAP pictures and GDR pictures can be collectively referred to as randomaccess point (RAP) pictures.

3.6. Reference Picture Management and Reference Picture Lists (RPLs)

Reference picture management is a core functionality that is necessaryfor any video coding scheme that uses inter prediction. It manages thestorage and removal of reference pictures into and from a decodedpicture buffer (DPB) and puts reference pictures in their proper orderin the RPLs.

The reference picture management of HEVC, including reference picturemarking and removal from the decoded picture buffer (DPB) as well asreference picture list construction (RPLC), differs from that of AVC.Instead of the reference picture marking mechanism based on a slidingwindow plus adaptive memory management control operation (MMCO) in AVC,HEVC specifies a reference picture management and marking mechanismbased on so-called reference picture set (RPS), and the RPLC isconsequently based on the RPS mechanism. An RPS consists of a set ofreference pictures associated with a picture, consisting of allreference pictures that are prior to the associated picture in decodingorder, that may be used for inter prediction of the associated pictureor any picture following the associated picture in decoding order. Thereference picture set consists of five lists of reference pictures. Thefirst three lists contain all reference pictures that may be used ininter prediction of the current picture and that may be used in interprediction of one or more of the pictures following the current picturein decoding order. The other two lists consist of all reference picturesthat are not used in inter prediction of the current picture but may beused in inter prediction of one or more of the pictures following thecurrent picture in decoding order. RPS provides an “intra-coded”signaling of the DPB status, instead of an “inter-coded” signaling as inAVC, mainly for improved error resilience. The RPLC process in HEVC isbased on the RPS, by signaling an index to an RPS subset for eachreference index; this process is simpler than the RPLC process in AVC.

Reference picture management in VVC is more similar to HEVC than AVC,but is somewhat simpler and more robust. As in those standards, twoRPLs, list 0 and list 1, are derived, but they are not based on thereference picture set concept used in HEVC or the automatic slidingwindow process used in AVC; instead they are signaled more directly.Reference pictures are listed for the RPLs as either active and inactiveentries, and only the active entries may be used as reference indices ininter prediction of CTUs of the current picture. Inactive entriesindicate other pictures to be held in the DPB for referencing by otherpictures that arrive later in the bitstream.

3.7. Parameter Sets

AVC, HEVC, and VVC specify parameter sets. The types of parameter setsinclude SPS, PPS, APS, and VPS. SPS and PPS are supported in all of AVC,HEVC, and VVC. VPS was introduced since HEVC and is included in bothHEVC and VVC. APS was not included in AVC or HEVC but is included in thelatest VVC draft text.

SPS was designed to carry sequence-level header information, and PPS wasdesigned to carry infrequently changing picture-level headerinformation. With SPS and PPS, infrequently changing information neednot to be repeated for each sequence or picture, hence redundantsignalling of this information can be avoided. Furthermore, the use ofSPS and PPS enables out-of-band transmission of the important headerinformation, thus not only avoiding the need for redundant transmissionsbut also improving error resilience.

VPS was introduced for carrying sequence-level header information thatis common for all layers in multi-layer bitstreams.

APS was introduced for carrying such picture-level or slice-levelinformation that needs quite some bits to code, can be shared bymultiple pictures, and in a sequence there can be quite many differentvariations.

3.8. Related Definitions in in VVC

Related definitions in the latest VVC text (in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15) are asfollows.

-   -   associated IRAP picture (of a particular picture): The previous        IRAP picture in decoding order (when present) having the same        value of nuh_layer_id as the particular picture.    -   clean random access (CRA) PU: A PU in which the coded picture is        a CRA picture.    -   clean random access (CRA) picture: An IRAP picture for which        each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to CRA_NUT.    -   coded video sequence (CVS): A sequence of AUs that consists, in        decoding order, of a CVSS AU, followed by zero or more AUs that        are not CVSS AUs, including all subsequent AUs up to but not        including any subsequent AU that is a CVSS AU.    -   coded video sequence start (CVSS) AU: An AU in which there is a        PU for each layer in the CVS and the coded picture in each PU is        a CLVSS picture.    -   gradual decoding refresh (GDR) AU: An AU in which the coded        picture in each present PU is a GDR picture.    -   gradual decoding refresh (GDR) PU: A PU in which the coded        picture is a GDR picture.    -   gradual decoding refresh (GDR) picture: A picture for which each        VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to GDR NUT.    -   instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) PU: A PU in which the coded        picture is an IDR picture.    -   instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) picture: An IRAP picture        for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to        IDR_W_RADL or IDR_N_LP.    -   intra random access point (IRAP) AU: An AU in which there is a        PU for each layer in the CVS and the coded picture in each PU is        an IRAP picture.    -   intra random access point (IRAP) PU: A PU in which the coded        picture is an IRAP picture.    -   intra random access point (IRAP) picture: A coded picture for        which all VCL NAL units have the same value of nal_unit_type in        the range of IDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive.    -   leading picture: A picture that is in the same layer as the        associated IRAP picture and precedes the associated IRAP picture        in output order.    -   output order: The order in which the decoded pictures are output        from the DPB (for the decoded pictures that are to be output        from the DPB).    -   random access decodable leading (RADL) PU: A PU in which the        coded picture is a RADL picture.    -   random access decodable leading (RADL) picture: A picture for        which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to RADL NUT.    -   random access skipped leading (RASL) PU: A PU in which the coded        picture is a RASL picture.    -   random access skipped leading (RASL) picture: A picture for        which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to RASL_NUT.    -   step-wise temporal sublayer access (STSA) PU: A PU in which the        coded picture is an STSA picture.    -   step-wise temporal sublayer access (STSA) picture: A picture for        which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to STSA NUT.        -   NOTE—An STSA picture does not use pictures with the same            TemporalId as the STSA picture for inter prediction            reference. Pictures following an STSA picture in decoding            order with the same TemporalId as the STSA picture do not            use pictures prior to the STSA picture in decoding order            with the same TemporalId as the STSA picture for inter            prediction reference. An STSA picture enables up-switching,            at the STSA picture, to the sublayer containing the STSA            picture, from the immediately lower sublayer. STSA pictures            must have TemporalId greater than 0.    -   subpicture: An rectangular region of one or more slices within a        picture.    -   trailing picture: A non-IRAP picture that follows the associated        IRAP picture in output order and is not an STSA picture.        -   NOTE—Trailing pictures associated with an IRAP picture also            follow the IRAP picture in decoding order. Pictures that            follow the associated IRAP picture in output order and            precede the associated IRAP picture in decoding order are            not allowed.

3.9. NAL Unit Header Syntax and Semantics in VVC

In the latest VVC text (in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15), the NAL unit headersyntax and semantics are as follows.

7.3.1.2 NAL Unit Header Syntax

Descriptor nal_unit_header( ) {  forbidden_zero_bit f(1) nuh_reserved_zero_bit u(1)  nuh_layer_id u(6)  nal_unit_type u(5) nuh_temporal_id_plus1 u(3) }

7.4.2.2 NAL Unit Header Semantics

forbidden_zero_bit shall be equal to 0.nuh_reserved_zero_bit shall be equal to 0. The value 1 ofnuh_reserved_zero_bit may be specified in the future by ITU-T|ISO/IEC.Decoders shall ignore (i.e. remove from the bitstream and discard) NALunits with nuh_reserved_zero_bit equal to 1.nuh_layer_id specifies the identifier of the layer to which a VCL NALunit belongs or the identifier of a layer to which a non-VCL NAL unitapplies. The value of nuh_layer_id shall be in the range of 0 to 55,inclusive. Other values for nuh_layer_id are reserved for future use byITU-T|ISO/IEC.The value of nuh_layer_id shall be the same for all VCL NAL units of acoded picture. The value of nuh_layer_id of a coded picture or a PU isthe value of the nuh_layer_id of the VCL NAL units of the coded pictureor the PU.The value of nuh_layer_id for AUD, PH, EOS, and FD NAL units isconstrained as follows:

-   -   If nal_unit_type is equal to AUD NUT, nuh_layer_id shall be        equal to vps_layer_id[0].    -   Otherwise, when nal_unit_type is equal to PH NUT, EOS NUT, or FD        NUT, nuh_layer_id shall be equal to the nuh_layer_id of        associated VCL NAL unit.    -   NOTE 1—The value of nuh_layer_id of DCI, VPS, and EOB NAL units        is not constrained.        The value of nal_unit_type shall be the same for all pictures of        a CVSS AU.        nal_unit_type specifies the NAL unit type, i.e., the type of        RBSP data structure contained in the NAL unit as specified in        Table 5.        NAL units that have nal_unit_type in the range of UNSPEC_28 . .        . UNSPEC_31, inclusive, for which semantics are not specified,        shall not affect the decoding process specified in this        Specification.    -   NOTE 2—NAL unit types in the range of UNSPEC_28 . . . UNSPEC_31        may be used as determined by the application. No decoding        process for these values of nal_unit_type is specified in this        Specification. Since different applications might use these NAL        unit types for different purposes, particular care must be        exercised in the design of encoders that generate NAL units with        these nal_unit_type values, and in the design of decoders that        interpret the content of NAL units with these nal_unit_type        values. This Specification does not define any management for        these values. These nal_unit_type values might only be suitable        for use in contexts in which “collisions” of usage (i.e.,        different definitions of the meaning of the NAL unit content for        the same nal_unit_type value) are unimportant, or not possible,        or are managed—e.g., defined or managed in the controlling        application or transport specification, or by controlling the        environment in which bitstreams are distributed.        For purposes other than determining the amount of data in the        DUs of the bitstream (as specified in Annex C), decoders shall        ignore (remove from the bitstream and discard) the contents of        all NAL units that use reserved values of nal_unit_type.    -   NOTE 3—This requirement allows future definition of compatible        extensions to this Specification.

TABLE 5 NAL unit type codes and NAL unit type classes Name of Content ofNAL unit and RBSP syntax NAL unit nal_unit_type nal_unit_type structuretype class  0 TRAIL_NUT Coded slice of a trailing picture VCLslice_layer_rbsp( )  1 STSA_NUT Coded slice of an STSA picture VCLslice_layer_rbsp( )  2 RADL_NUT Coded slice of a RADL picture VCLslice_layer_rbsp( )  3 RASL_NUT Coded slice of a RASL picture VCLslice_layer_rbsp( )  4 . . . 6 RSV_VCL_4 . . . Reserved non-IRAP VCL NALunit types VCL RSV_VCL_6  7 IDR_W_RADL Coded slice of an IDR picture VCL 8 IDR_N_LP slice_layer_rbsp( )  9 CRA_NUT Coded slice of a CRA pictureVCL silce_layer_rbsp( ) 10 GDR_NUT Coded slice of a GDR picture VCLslice_layer_rbsp( ) 11 RSV_IRAP_11 Reserved IRAP VCL NAL unit types VCL12 RSV_IRAP_12 13 DCI_NUT Decoding capability information non-VCLdecoding_capability_information_rbsp( ) 14 VPS_NUT Video parameter setnon-VCL video_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 15 SPS_NUT Sequence parameter setnon-VCL seq_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 16 PPS_NUT Picture parameter setnon-VCL pic_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 17 PREFIX_APS_NUT Adaptation parameterset non-VCL 18 SUFFIX_APS_NUT adaptation_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 19 PH_NUTPicture header non-VCL picture_header_rbsp( ) 20 AUD_NUT AU delimiternon-VCL access_unit_delimiter_rbsp( ) 21 EOS_NUT End of sequence non-VCLend_of_seq_rbsp( ) 22 EOB_NUT End of bitstream non-VCLend_of_bitstream_rbsp( ) 23 PREFIX_SEL_NUT Supplemental enhancementinformation non-VCL 24 SUFFIX_SEL_NUT sei_rbsp( ) 25 FD_NUT Filler datanon-VCL filler_data_rbsp( ) 26 RSV_NVCL_26 Reserved non-VCL NAL unittypes non-VCL 27 RSV_NVCL_27 28 . . . 31 UNSPEC_28 . . . Unspecifiednon-VCL NAL unit types non-VCL UNSPEC_31

-   -   NOTE 4—A clean random access (CRA) picture may have associated        RASL or RADL pictures present in the bitstream.    -   NOTE 5—An instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) picture having        nal_unit_type equal to IDR_N_LP does not have associated leading        pictures present in the bitstream. An IDR picture having        nal_unit_type equal to IDR_W_RADL does not have associated RASL        pictures present in the bitstream, but may have associated RADL        pictures in the bitstream.        The value of nal_unit_type shall be the same for all VCL NAL        units of a subpicture. A subpicture is referred to as having the        same NAL unit type as the VCL NAL units of the subpicture.        For VCL NAL units of any particular picture, the following        applies:    -   If mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 0, the value of        nal_unit_type shall be the same for all VCL NAL units of a        picture, and a picture or a PU is referred to as having the same        NAL unit type as the coded slice NAL units of the picture or PU.    -   Otherwise (mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 1), the        picture shall have at least two subpictures and VCL NAL units of        the picture shall have exactly two different nal_unit_type        values as follows: the VCL NAL units of at least one subpicture        of the picture shall all have a particular value of        nal_unit_type equal to STSA NUT, RADL NUT, RASL_NUT, IDR_W_RADL,        IDR_N_LP, or CRA_NUT, while the VCL NAL units of other        subpictures in the picture shall all have a different particular        value of nal_unit_type equal to TRAIL NUT, RADL_NUT, or        RASL_NUT.        For a single-layer bitstream, the following constraints apply:    -   Each picture, other than the first picture in the bitstream in        decoding order, is considered to be associated with the previous        IRAP picture in decoding order.    -   When a picture is a leading picture of an IRAP picture, it shall        be a RADL or RASL picture.    -   When a picture is a trailing picture of an IRAP picture, it        shall not be a RADL or RASL picture.    -   No RASL pictures shall be present in the bitstream that are        associated with an IDR picture.    -   No RADL pictures shall be present in the bitstream that are        associated with an IDR picture having nal_unit_type equal to        IDR_N_LP.        -   NOTE 6—It is possible to perform random access at the            position of an IRAP PU by discarding all PUs before the IRAP            PU (and to correctly decode the IRAP picture and all the            subsequent non-RASL pictures in decoding order), provided            each parameter set is available (either in the bitstream or            by external means not specified in this Specification) when            it is referenced.    -   Any picture that precedes an IRAP picture in decoding order        shall precede the IRAP picture in output order and shall precede        any RADL picture associated with the IRAP picture in output        order.    -   Any RASL picture associated with a CRA picture shall precede any        RADL picture associated with the CRA picture in output order.    -   Any RASL picture associated with a CRA picture shall follow, in        output order, any IRAP picture that precedes the CRA picture in        decoding order.    -   If field_seq_flag is equal to 0 and the current picture is a        leading picture associated with an IRAP picture, it shall        precede, in decoding order, all non-leading pictures that are        associated with the same IRAP picture. Otherwise, let picA and        picB be the first and the last leading pictures, in decoding        order, associated with an IRAP picture, respectively, there        shall be at most one non-leading picture preceding picA in        decoding order, and there shall be no non-leading picture        between picA and picB in decoding order.        nuh_temporal_id_plus1 minus 1 specifies a temporal identifier        for the NAL unit.        The value of nuh_temporal_id_plus1 shall not be equal to 0.        The variable TemporalId is derived as follows:

TemporalId=nuh_temporal_id_plus1−1  (36)

When nal_unit_type is in the range of IDR_W_RADL to RSV_IRAP_12,inclusive, TemporalId shall be equal to 0.When nal_unit_type is equal to STSA NUT andvps_independent_layer_flag[GeneralLayerIdx[nuh_layer_id] ] is equal to1, TemporalId shall not be equal to 0.The value of TemporalId shall be the same for all VCL NAL units of anAU. The value of TemporalId of a coded picture, a PU, or an AU is thevalue of the TemporalId of the VCL NAL units of the coded picture, PU,or AU. The value of TemporalId of a sublayer representation is thegreatest value of TemporalId of all VCL NAL units in the sublayerrepresentation.The value of TemporalId for non-VCL NAL units is constrained as follows:

-   -   If nal_unit_type is equal to DCI NUT, VPS NUT, or SPS NUT,        TemporalId shall be equal to 0 and the TemporalId of the AU        containing the NAL unit shall be equal to 0.    -   Otherwise, if nal_unit_type is equal to PH NUT, TemporalId shall        be equal to the TemporalId of the PU containing the NAL unit.    -   Otherwise, if nal_unit_type is equal to EOS NUT or EOB NUT,        TemporalId shall be equal to 0.    -   Otherwise, if nal_unit_type is equal to AUD NUT, FD NUT, PREFIX        SEI NUT, or SUFFIX SEI NUT, TemporalId shall be equal to the        TemporalId of the AU containing the NAL unit.    -   Otherwise, when nal_unit_type is equal to PPS NUT, PREFIX APS        NUT, or SUFFIX APS NUT, TemporalId shall be greater than or        equal to the TemporalId of the PU containing the NAL unit.    -   NOTE 7—When the NAL unit is a non-VCL NAL unit, the value of        TemporalId is equal to the minimum value of the TemporalId        values of all AUs to which the non-VCL NAL unit applies. When        nal_unit_type is equal to PPS NUT, PREFIX APS NUT, or SUFFIX APS        NUT, TemporalId may be greater than or equal to the TemporalId        of the containing AU, as all PPSs and APSs may be included in        the beginning of the bitstream (e.g., when they are transported        out-of-band, and the receiver places them at the beginning of        the bitstream), wherein the first coded picture has TemporalId        equal to 0.        3.10. Mixed NAL Unit Types within a Picture

7.4.3.4 Picture Parameter Set Semantics

mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag equal to 1 specifies that each picturereferring to the PPS has more than one VCL NAL unit, the VCL NAL unitsdo not have the same value of nal_unit_type, and the picture is not anIRAP picture. mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag equal to 0 specifies thateach picture referring to the PPS has one or more VCL NAL units and theVCL NAL units of each picture referring to the PPS have the same valueof nal_unit_type.

When no_mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_constraint_flag is equal to 1, the valueof mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag shall be equal to 0.

For each slice with a nal_unit_type value nalUnitTypeA in the range ofIDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive, in a picture picA that also containsone or more slices with another value of nal_unit_type (i.e., the valueof mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag for the picture picA is equal to 1), thefollowing applies:

-   -   The slice shall belong to a subpicture subpicA for which the        value of the corresponding subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[i] is        equal to 1.    -   The slice shall not belong to a subpicture of picA containing        VCL NAL units with nal_unit_type not equal to nalUnitTypeA.    -   If nalUnitTypeA is equal to CRA, for all the following PUs        following the current picture in the CLVS in decoding order and        in output order, neither RefPicList[0] nor RefPicList[1] of a        slice in subpicA in those PUs shall include any picture        preceding picA in decoding order in an active entry.    -   Otherwise (i.e., nalUnitTypeA is equal to IDR_W_RADL or        IDR_N_LP), for all the PUs in the CLVS following the current        picture in decoding order, neither RefPicList[0] nor        RefPicList[1] of a slice in subpicA in those PUs shall include        any picture preceding picA in decoding order in an active entry.        -   NOTE 1— mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag equal to 1 indicates            that pictures referring to the PPS contain slices with            different NAL unit types, e.g., coded pictures originating            from a subpicture bitstream merging operation for which            encoders have to ensure matching bitstream structure and            further alignment of parameters of the original bitstreams.            One example of such alignments is as follows: When the value            of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is equal to 0 and            mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 1, a picture            referring to the PPS cannot have slices with nal_unit_type            equal to IDR_W_RADL or IDR_N_LP.

3.11. Picture Header Structure Syntax and Semantics in VVC

In the latest VVC text (in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15), the picture headerstructure syntax and semantics that are most relevant to the embodimentsherein are as follows.

7.3.2.7 Picture Header Structure Syntax

Descriptor picture_header_structure( ) {  gdr_or_irap_pic_flag u(1)  if(gdr_or_irap_pic_flag )   gdr_pic_flag u(1)  . . .  ph_pic_order_cnt_lsbu(v)  if( gdr_or_irap_pic_flag )   no_output_of_prior_pics_flag u(1) if( gdr_pic_flag )   recovery_poc_cnt ue(v)  . . . ue(v) }

7.4.3.7 Picture Header Structure Semantics

The PH syntax structure contains information that is common for allslices of the coded picture associated with the PH syntax structure.gdr_or_irap_pic_flag equal to 1 specifies that the current picture is aGDR or IRAP picture. gdr_or_irap_pic_flag equal to 0 specifies that thecurrent picture may or may not be a GDR or IRAP picture.gdr_pic_flag equal to 1 specifies the picture associated with the PH isa GDR picture. gdr_pic_flag equal to 0 specifies that the pictureassociated with the PH is not a GDR picture. When not present, the valueof gdr_pic_flag is inferred to be equal to 0. When gdr_enabled_flag isequal to 0, the value of gdr_pic_flag shall be equal to 0.

-   -   NOTE 1— When gdr_or_irap_pic_flag is equal to 1 and gdr_pic_flag        is equal to 0, the picture associated with the PH is an IRAP        picture.        ph_pic_order_cnt_lsb specifies the picture order count modulo        MaxPicOrderCntLsb for the current picture. The length of the        ph_pic_order_cnt_lsb syntax element is        log2_max_pic_order_cnt_lsb_minus4+4 bits. The value of the        ph_pic_order_cnt_lsb shall be in the range of 0 to        MaxPicOrderCntLsb−1, inclusive.        no_output_of_prior_pics_flag affects the output of        previously-decoded pictures in the DPB after the decoding of a        CLVSS picture that is not the first picture in the bitstream as        specified in Annex C.        recovery_poc_cnt specifies the recovery point of decoded        pictures in output order. If the current picture is a GDR        picture that is associated with the PH, and there is a picture        picA that follows the current GDR picture in decoding order in        the CLVS that has PicOrderCntVal equal to the PicOrderCntVal of        the current GDR picture plus the value of recovery_poc_cnt, the        picture picA is referred to as the recovery point picture.        Otherwise, the first picture in output order that has        PicOrderCntVal greater than the PicOrderCntVal of the current        picture plus the value of recovery_poc_cnt is referred to as the        recovery point picture. The recovery point picture shall not        precede the current GDR picture in decoding order. The value of        recovery_poc_cnt shall be in the range of 0 to        MaxPicOrderCntLsb−1, inclusive.        When the current picture is a GDR picture, the variable        RpPicOrderCntVal is derived as follows:

RpPicOrderCntVal=PicOrderCntVal+recovery_poc_cnt  (81)

-   -   NOTE 2—When gdr_enabled_flag is equal to 1 and PicOrderCntVal of        the current picture is greater than or equal to RpPicOrderCntVal        of the associated GDR picture, the current and subsequent        decoded pictures in output order are exact match to the        corresponding pictures produced by starting the decoding process        from the previous IRAP picture, when present, preceding the        associated GDR picture in decoding order.

3.12. Constraints on RPLs in VVC

In the latest VVC text (in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15), the constraints on RPLsin VVC are as follows (as part of VVC's clause 8.3.2Decoding process forreference picture lists construction).

8.3.2 Decoding Process for Reference Picture Lists Construction

For each i equal to 0 or 1, the first NumRefIdxActive[i] entries inRefPicList[i] are referred to as the active entries in RefPicList[i],and the other entries in RefPicList[i] are referred to as the inactiveentries in RefPicList[i].

-   -   NOTE 2—It is possible that a particular picture is referred to        by both an entry in RefPicList[0] and an entry in RefPicList[1].        It is also possible that a particular picture is referred to by        more than one entry in RefPicList[0] or by more than one entry        in RefPicList[1].    -   NOTE 3—The active entries in RefPicList[0] and the active        entries in RefPicList[1] collectively refer to all reference        pictures that may be used for inter prediction of the current        picture and one or more pictures that follow the current picture        in decoding order. The inactive entries in RefPicList[0] and the        inactive entries in RefPicList[1] collectively refer to all        reference pictures that are not used for inter prediction of the        current picture but may be used in inter prediction for one or        more pictures that follow the current picture in decoding order.    -   NOTE 4—There may be one or more entries in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that are equal to “no reference picture” because        the corresponding pictures are not present in the DPB. Each        inactive entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[0] that is equal        to “no reference picture” should be ignored. An unintentional        picture loss should be inferred for each active entry in        RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that is equal to “no reference        picture”.        It is a requirement of bitstream conformance that the following        constraints apply:    -   For each i equal to 0 or 1, num_ref_entries[i][RplsIdx[i]] shall        not be less than NumRefIdxActive[i].    -   The picture referred to by each active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] shall be present in the DPB and shall have        TemporalId less than or equal to that of the current picture.    -   The picture referred to by each entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] shall not be the current picture and shall have        non reference picture flag equal to 0.    -   An STRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] of a slice of a        picture and an LTRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] of        the same slice or a different slice of the same picture shall        not refer to the same picture.    -   There shall be no LTRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1]        for which the difference between the PicOrderCntVal of the        current picture and the PicOrderCntVal of the picture referred        to by the entry is greater than or equal to 2²⁴.    -   Let setOfRefPics be the set of unique pictures referred to by        all entries in RefPicList[0] that have the same nuh_layer_id as        the current picture and all entries in RefPicList[1] that have        the same nuh_layer_id as the current picture. The number of        pictures in setOfRefPics shall be less than or equal to        MaxDpbSize−1, inclusive, where MaxDpbSize is as specified in        clause A.4.2, and setOfRefPics shall be the same for all slices        of a picture.    -   When the current slice has nal_unit_type equal to STSA NUT,        there shall be no active entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1]        that has TemporalId equal to that of the current picture and        nuh_layer_id equal to that of the current picture.    -   When the current picture is a picture that follows, in decoding        order, an STSA picture that has TemporalId equal to that of the        current picture and nuh_layer_id equal to that of the current        picture, there shall be no picture that precedes the STSA        picture in decoding order, has TemporalId equal to that of the        current picture, and has nuh_layer_id equal to that of the        current picture included as an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1].    -   When the current picture is a CRA picture, there shall be no        picture referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes, in output order or decoding order,        any preceding IRAP picture in decoding order (when present).    -   When the current picture is a trailing picture, there shall be        no picture referred to by an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that was generated by the decoding process for        generating unavailable reference pictures for the IRAP picture        associated with the current picture.    -   When the current picture is a trailing picture that follows, in        both decoding order and output order, one or more leading        pictures associated with the same IRAP picture, if any, there        shall be no picture referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that was generated by the decoding process for        generating unavailable reference pictures for the IRAP picture        associated with the current picture.    -   When the current picture is a recovery point picture or a        picture that follows the recovery point picture in output order,        there shall be no entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that        contains a picture that was generated by the decoding process        for generating unavailable reference pictures for the GDR        picture of the recovery point picture.    -   When the current picture is a trailing picture, there shall be        no picture referred to by an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes the associated IRAP picture in        output order or decoding order.    -   When the current picture is a trailing picture that follows, in        both decoding order and output order, one or more leading        pictures associated with the same IRAP picture, if any, there        shall be no picture referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes the associated IRAP picture in        output order or decoding order.    -   When the current picture is a RADL picture, there shall be no        active entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that is any of        the following:        -   A RASL picture        -   A picture that was generated by the decoding process for            generating unavailable reference pictures        -   A picture that precedes the associated IRAP picture in            decoding order    -   The picture referred to by each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] of a slice of the current picture shall be in the        same AU as the current picture.    -   The picture referred to by each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] of a slice of the current picture shall be present        in the DPB and shall have nuh_layer_id less than that of the        current picture.    -   Each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] of a slice        shall be an active entry.

3.13. Setting of PictureOutputFlag

In the latest VVC text (in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15), the specification forsetting of the value of the variable PictureOutputFlag is as follows (aspart of clause 8.1.2 Decoding process for a coded picture).

8.1.2 Decoding Process for a Coded Picture

The decoding processes specified in this clause apply to each codedpicture, referred to as the current picture and denoted by the variableCurrPic, in BitstreamToDecode.

Depending on the value of chroma_format_idc, the number of sample arraysof the current picture is as follows:

-   -   If chroma_format_idc is equal to 0, the current picture consists        of 1 sample array S_(L).    -   Otherwise (chroma_format_idc is not equal to 0), the current        picture consists of 3 sample arrays S_(L), S_(Cb), S_(Cr).        The decoding process for the current picture takes as inputs the        syntax elements and upper-case variables from clause 7. When        interpreting the semantics of each syntax element in each NAL        unit, and in the remaining parts of clause 8, the term “the        bitstream” (or part thereof, e.g., a CVS of the bitstream)        refers to BitstreamToDecode (or part thereof).        Depending on the value of separate colour plane flag, the        decoding process is structured as follows:    -   If separate colour plane flag is equal to 0, the decoding        process is invoked a single time with the current picture being        the output.    -   Otherwise (separate_colour_plane_flag is equal to 1), the        decoding process is invoked three times. Inputs to the decoding        process are all NAL units of the coded picture with identical        value of colour_plane_id. The decoding process of NAL units with        a particular value of colour_plane_id is specified as if only a        CVS with monochrome colour format with that particular value of        colour_plane_id would be present in the bitstream. The output of        each of the three decoding processes is assigned to one of the 3        sample arrays of the current picture, with the NAL units with        colour_plane_id equal to 0, 1 and 2 being assigned to S_(L),        S_(Cb) and S_(Cr), respectively.        -   NOTE—The variable ChromaArrayType is derived as equal to 0            when separate_colour_plane_flag is equal to 1 and            chroma_format_idc is equal to 3. In the decoding process,            the value of this variable is evaluated resulting in            operations identical to that of monochrome pictures (when            chroma_format_idc is equal to 0).            The decoding process operates as follows for the current            picture CurrPic:    -   1. The decoding of NAL units is specified in clause 8.2.    -   2. The processes in clause 8.3 specify the following decoding        processes using syntax elements in the slice header layer and        above:        -   Variables and functions relating to picture order count are            derived as specified in clause 8.3.1. This needs to be            invoked only for the first slice of a picture.        -   At the beginning of the decoding process for each slice of a            non-IDR picture, the decoding process for reference picture            lists construction specified in clause 8.3.2 is invoked for            derivation of reference picture list 0 (RefPicList[0]) and            reference picture list 1 (RefPicList[1]).        -   The decoding process for reference picture marking in clause            8.3.3 is invoked, wherein reference pictures may be marked            as “unused for reference” or “used for long-term reference”.            This needs to be invoked only for the first slice of a            picture.        -   When the current picture is a CRA picture with            NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 or GDR picture with            NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, the decoding process            for generating unavailable reference pictures specified in            subclause 8.3.4 is invoked, which needs to be invoked only            for the first slice of a picture.        -   PictureOutputFlag is set as follows:            -   If one of the following conditions is true,                PictureOutputFlag is set equal to 0:                -   the current picture is a RASL picture and                    NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag of the associated IRAP                    picture is equal to 1.            -   gdr_enabled_flag is equal to 1 and the current picture                is a GDR picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal                to 1.            -   gdr_enabled_flag is equal to 1, the current picture is                associated with a GDR picture with                NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, and                PicOrderCntVal of the current picture is less than                RpPicOrderCntVal of the associated GDR picture.            -   sps_videoparameter_set_id is greater than 0,                ols_mode_idc is equal to 0 and the current AU contains a                picture picA that satisfies all of the following                conditions:                -   PicA has PictureOutputFlag equal to 1.                -   PicA has nuh_layer_id nuhLid greater than that of                    the current picture.                -   PicA belongs to the output layer of the OLS (i.e.,                    OutputLayerIdInOls[TargetOlsIdx][0] is equal to                    nuhLid).            -   sps_videoparameter_set_id is greater than 0,                ols_mode_idc is equal to 2, and                ols_output_layer_flag[TargetOlsIdx][GeneralLayerIdx[nuh_layer_id]]                is equal to 0.        -   Otherwise, PictureOutputFlag is set equal to pic output            flag.    -   3. The processes in clauses 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, and 8.8 specify        decoding processes using syntax elements in all syntax structure        layers. It is a requirement of bitstream conformance that the        coded slices of the picture shall contain slice data for every        CTU of the picture, such that the division of the picture into        slices, and the division of the slices into CTUs each forms a        partitioning of the picture.    -   4. After all slices of the current picture have been decoded,        the current decoded picture is marked as “used for short-term        reference”, and each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] is marked as “used for short-term reference”.

4. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS SOLVED BY DISCLOSED TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

The existing design in the latest VVC text (in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15) hasthe following problems:

-   -   1) Since it is allowed to mix different types of subpictures        within one picture, calling the content of a NAL unit with a VCL        NAL unit type as coded slice of a particular type of picture is        confusing. For example, a NAL unit with nal_unit_type equal to        CRA_NUT is a coded slice of a CRA picture only when all slices        of the picture have nal_unit_type equal to CRA_NUT; when one        slice of this picture has nal_unit_type not equal to CRA_NUT,        then the picture is not a CRA picture.    -   2) Currently, the value of subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ ] is        required to be equal to 1 for a subpicture if the subpicture        contains a VCL NAL unit with nal_unit_type in the range of        IDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive, and        mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 1 for the picture. In        other words, the value of subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ ] is        required to be equal to 1 for an IRAP subpicture mixed with        another type of subpicture in a picture. However, with the        support of more mixes of VCL NAL unit types, this requirement is        not enough.    -   3) Currently only up to two different types of VCL NAL units        (and two different types of subpictures) are allowed within a        picture.    -   4) There lacks a constraint on the output order of a trailing        subpicture relative to the associated IRAP or GDR subpicture, in        both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   5) Currently, it is specified that when a picture is a leading        picture of an IRAP picture, it shall be a RADL or RASL picture.        This constraint, together with the definitions of        leading/RADL/RASL pictures, disallows mixing of RADL and RASL        NAL unit types within a picture resulted from mixing of two CRA        pictures and their non-AU-aligned associated RADL and RASL        pictures.    -   6) There lacks a constraint on the subpicture type (i.e., the        NAL unit type of the VCL NAL units in a subpicture) for a        leading subpicture, in both single-layer and multi-layer        contexts.    -   7) There lacks a constraint on whether a RASL subpicture can be        present and associated with an IDR subpicture, in both        single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   8) There lacks a constraint on whether a RADL subpictures can be        present and associated with an IDR subpicture having        nal_unit_type equal to IDR_N_LP, in both single-layer and        multi-layer contexts.    -   9) There lacks a constraint on the relative output order between        a subpicture preceding an IRAP subpicture in decoding order and        the RADL subpictures associated with the IRAP subpicture, in        both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   10) There lacks a constraint on the relative output order        between a subpicture preceding a GDR subpicture in decoding        order and the subpictures associated with the GDR subpicture, in        both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   11) There lacks a constraint on the relative output order        between a RASL subpicture associated with a CRA subpicture and a        RADL subpicture associated with the CRA subpicture, in both        single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   12) There lacks a constraint on the relative output order        between a RASL subpicture associated with a CRA subpicture and        an IRAP subpicture that precedes the CRA subpicture in decoding        order, in both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   13) There lacks a constraint on the relative decoding order        between an IRAP picture's associated non-leading pictures and        leading pictures, in both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   14) There lacks a constraint on the RPL active entries for a        subpicture following an STSA subpicture in decoding order, in        both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   15) There lacks a constraint on the RPL entries for a CRA        subpicture in both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   16) There lacks a constraint on the RPL active entries for a        subpicture that refer to a picture that was generated by the        decoding process for generating unavailable reference pictures,        in both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   17) There lacks a constraint on the RPL entries for a subpicture        that refer to a picture that was generated by the decoding        process for generating unavailable reference pictures, in both        single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   18) There lacks a constraint on the RPL active entries for a        subpicture associated with an IRAP picture and following the        IRAP picture in output order, in both single-layer and        multi-layer contexts.    -   19) There lacks a constraint on the RPL entries for a subpicture        associated with an IRAP picture and following the IRAP picture        in output order, in both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.    -   20) There lacks a constraint on the RPL active entries for a        RADL subpicture, in both single-layer and multi-layer contexts.

5. EXAMPLES OF SOLUTIONS AND EMBODIMENTS

To solve the above problems, and others, methods as summarized below aredisclosed. The items should be considered as examples to explain thegeneral concepts and should not be interpreted in a narrow way.Furthermore, these items can be applied individually or combined in anymanner.

-   -   1) To solve problem 1, instead of specifying the content of a        NAL unit with a VCL NAL unit type as “coded slice of a        particular type of picture”, it is specified “coded slice of a        particular type of picture or subpicture”. For example, the        content of a NAL unit with nal_unit_type equal to CRA_NUT is        specified as “coded slice of a CRA picture or subpicture”.        -   a. Furthermore, one or more of the following terms are            defined: associated GDR subpicture, associated IRAP            subpicture, CRA subpicture, GDR subpicture, IDR subpicture,            IRAP subpicture, leading subpicture, RADL subpicture, RASL            subpicture, STSA subpicture, trailing subpicture.    -   2) To solve problem 2, add a constraint to require that any two        neighboring subpictures with different NAL unit types shall both        have the subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ ] equal to 1.        -   a. In one example, the constraint is specified as follows:            For any two neighboring subpictures with subpicture indices            i and j in a picture, when subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[i] or            subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[j] is equal to 0, the two            subpictures shall have the same NAL unit type.        -   a. Alternatively, it is required that, when any subpicture            with subpicture index i has subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[i]            equal to 0, all subpictures in a picture shall have the same            NAL unit type (i.e., all VCL NAL units in a picture shall            have the same NAL unit type, i.e., the value of            mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag shall be equal to 0). And this            means that mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag can only be equal to            1 when all subpictures have their corresponding            subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[ ] equal to 1.    -   3) To solve problem 3, when mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is        equal to 1, it may be allowed for a picture to contain more than        two different types of VCL NAL units.    -   4) To solve problem 4, it is specified that a trailing        subpicture shall follow the associated IRAP or GDR subpicture in        output order.    -   5) To solve problem 5, to allow mixing of RADL and RASL NAL unit        types within a picture resulted from mixing of two CRA pictures        and their non-AU-aligned associated RADL and RASL pictures, the        existing constraint specifying that a leading picture of an IRAP        picture shall be a RADL or RASL picture is changed to be as        follows: When a picture is a leading picture of an IRAP picture,        the nal_unit_type value for all VCL NAL units in the picture        shall be equal to RADL_NUT or RASL_NUT. Furthermore, in the        decoding process for a picture with mixed nal_unit_type values        of RADL_NUT and RASL_NUT, the PictureOutputFlag of the picture        is set equal to pic output flag when the layer containing the        picture is an output layer.        -   This way, through the constraint that all pictures that are            output need to be correct for conforming decoders, the RADL            subpictures within such pictures can be guaranteed, although            the guarantee of the “correctness” of the “mid-valued” RASL            subpictures within such pictures when the associated CRA            picture has NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 is also in            place but is actually not needed. The unnecessary part of            the guaranttee does not matter and does not add complexity            for implementing conforming encoders or decoders. In this            case, it′d be useful to add a NOTE clarifying that although            such RASL subpictures associated with a CRA picture with            NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 may be output by the            decoding process, they are not intended to be used for            display and thus should not be used for display.    -   6) To solve problem 6, it is specified that when a subpicture is        a leading subpicture of an IRAP subpicture, it shall be a RADL        or RASL subpicture.    -   7) To solve problem 7, it is specified that no RASL subpictures        shall be present in the bitstream that are associated with an        IDR subpicture.    -   8) To solve problem 8, it is specified that no RADL subpictures        shall be present in the bitstream that are associated with an        IDR subpicture having nal_unit_type equal to IDR_N_LP.    -   9) To solve problem 9, it is specified that any subpicture, with        nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value layerId and subpicture        index equal to a particular value subpicIdx, that precedes, in        decoding order, an IRAP subpicture with nuh_layer_id equal to        layerId and subpicture index equal to subpicIdx shall precede,        in output order, the IRAP subpicture and all its associated RADL        subpictures.    -   10) To solve problem 10, it is specified that any subpicture,        with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value layerId and        subpicture index equal to a particular value subpicIdx, that        precedes, in decoding order, a GDR subpicture with nuh_layer_id        equal to layerId and subpicture index equal to subpicIdx shall        precede, in output order, the GDR subpicture and all its        associated subpictures.    -   11) To solve problem 11, it is specified that any RASL        subpicture associated with a CRA subpicture shall precede any        RADL subpicture associated with the CRA subpicture in output        order.    -   12) To solve problem 12, it is specified that any RASL        subpicture associated with a CRA subpicture shall follow, in        output order, any IRAP subpicture that precedes the CRA        subpicture in decoding order.    -   13) To solve problem 13, it is specified that if field_seq_flag        is equal to 0 and the current subpicture, with nuh_layer_id        equal to a particular value layerId and subpicture index equal        to a particular value subpicIdx, is a leading subpicture        associated with an IRAP subpicture, it shall precede, in        decoding order, all non-leading subpictures that are associated        with the same IRAP subpicture; otherwise, let subpicA and        subpicB be the first and the last leading subpictures, in        decoding order, associated with an IRAP subpicture,        respectively, there shall be at most one non-leading subpicture        with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId and subpicture index equal to        subpicIdx preceding subpicA in decoding order, and there shall        be no non-leading picture with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId and        subpicture index equal to subpicIdx between picA and picB in        decoding order.    -   14) To solve problem 14, it is specified that when the current        subpicture, with TemporalId equal to a particular value tId,        nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value layerId, and subpicture        index equal to a particular value subpicIdx, is a subpicture        that follows, in decoding order, an STSA subpicture with        TemporalId equal to tId, nuh_layer_id equal to layerId, and        subpicture index equal to subpicIdx, there shall be no picture        with TemporalId equal to tId and nuh_layer_id equal to layerId        that precedes the picture containing the STSA subpicture in        decoding order included as an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1].    -   15) To solve problem 15, it is specified that when the current        subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value        layerId and subpicture index equal to a particular value        subpicIdx, is a CRA subpicture, there shall be no picture        referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that        precedes, in output order or decoding order, any picture        containing a preceding IRAP subpicture with nuh_layer_id equal        to layerId and subpicture index equal to subpicIdx in decoding        order (when present).    -   16) To solve problem 16, it is specified that when the current        subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value        layerId and subpicture index equal to a particular value        subpicIdx, is not a RASL subpicture associated with a CRA        subpicture of a CRA picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag        equal to 1, a GDR subpicture of a GDR picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, or a subpicture of a        recovery picture of a GDR picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 and nuh_layer_id equal to        layerId, there shall be no picture referred to by an active        entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that was generated by        the decoding process for generating unavailable reference        pictures.    -   17) To solve problem 17, it is specified that when the current        subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value        layerId and subpicture index equal to a particular value        subpicIdx, is not a CRA subpicture of a CRA picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a subpicture that        precedes, in decoding order, the leading subpictures associated        with the same CRA subpicture of a CRA picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a leading subpicture        associated with a CRA subpicture of a CRA picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a GDR subpicture of a GDR        picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, or a        subpicture of a recovering picture of a GDR picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 and nuh_layer_id equal to        layerId, there shall be no picture referred to by an entry in        RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that was generated by the        decoding process for generating unavailable reference pictures.    -   18) To solve problem 18, it is specified that when the current        subpicture is associated with an IRAP subpicture and follows the        IRAP subpicture in output order, there shall be no picture        referred to by an active entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1]        that precedes the picture containing the associated IRAP        subpicture in output order or decoding order.    -   19) To solve problem 19, it is specified that when the current        subpicture is associated with an IRAP subpicture, follows the        IRAP subpicture in output order, and follows, in both decoding        order and output order, the leading subpictures associated with        the same IRAP subpicture, if any, there shall be no picture        referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that        precedes the picture containing the associated IRAP subpicture        in output order or decoding order.    -   20) To solve problem 20, it is specified that when the current        subpicture is a RADL subpicture, there shall be no active entry        in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that is any of the following:        -   a. A picture containing a RASL subpicture        -   b. A picture that precedes the picture containing the            associated IRAP subpicture in decoding order    -   21) It is specified that, when a subpicture is not a leading        subpicture of an IRAP subpicture, it shall not be a RADL or RASL        subpicture.    -   22) Alternatively, to solve problem 10, it is specified that,        any subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value        layerId and subpicture index equal to a particular value        subpicIdx, that precedes, in decoding order, a subpicture with        nuh_layer_id equal to layerId and subpicture index equal to        subpicIdx in a recovery point picture shall precede that        subpicture in the recovery point picture in output order.    -   23) Alternatively, to solve problem 15, it is specified that,        when the current subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a        particular value layerId and subpicture index equal to a        particular value subpicIdx, is a CRA subpicture, there shall be        no picture referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes, in output order or decoding order,        any preceding picture, in decoding order (when present),        containing an IRAP subpicture with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId        and subpicture index equal to subpicIdx.    -   24) Alternatively, to solve problem 18, it is specified that,        when the current subpicture follows an IRAP subpicture having        the same value of nuh_layer_id and the same value of subpicture        index in both decoding and output order, there shall be no        picture referred to by an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes the picture containing that IRAP        subpicture in output order or decoding order.    -   25) Alternatively, to solve problem 19, it is specified that,        when the current subpicture follows an IRAP subpicture having        the same value of nuh_layer_id and the same value of subpicture        index and the leading subpictures, if any, associated with that        IRAP subpicture in both decoding and output order, there shall        be no picture referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes the picture containing that IRAP        subpicture in output order or decoding order.    -   26) Alternatively, to solve problem 20, it is specified that,        when the current subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a        particular value layerId and subpicture index equal to a        particular value subpicIdx, is a RADL subpicture, there shall be        no active entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that is any of        the following:        -   a. A picture with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId containing a            RASL subpicture with subpicture index equal to subpicIdx        -   b. A picture that precedes the picture containing the            associated IRAP subpicture in decoding order

6. EMBODIMENTS

Below are some example embodiments for some of the aspects summarizedabove in Section 5, which can be applied to the VVC specification. Thechanged texts are based on the latest VVC text in JVET-Q2001-vE/v15.Most relevant parts that have been added or modified are highlighted inboldface italics, and some of the deleted parts are highlighted in openand close double brackets (e.g., [[ ]]) with deleted text in between thedouble brackets. There are some other changes that are editorial innature or not part of this technical solution and thus not highlighted.

6.1. First Embodiment

This embodiment is for items 1, 1a, 2, 2a, 4, and 6 to 20.

3 Definitions

-   -   associated GDR picture (of a particular picture with a        particular value of nuh_layer_id layerId): The previous GDR        picture in decoding order with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId        (when present) between which and the particular picture in        decoding order there is no IRAP picture with nuh_layer_id equal        to layerId.

    -   .

    -   associated IRAP picture (of a particular picture with a        particular value of nuh_layer_id layerId): The previous IRAP        picture in decoding order with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId        (when present) between which and the particular picture in        decoding order there is no GDR picture with nuh_layer_id equal        to layerId.

    -   .

    -   clean random access (CRA) picture: An IRAP picture for which        each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to CRA_NUT.

    -   

    -   gradual decoding refresh (GDR) AU: An AU in which there is a PU        for each layer in the CVS and the coded picture in each present        PU is a GDR picture.

    -   gradual decoding refresh (GDR) picture: A picture for which each        VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to GDR NUT.

    -   .

    -   instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) picture: An IRAP picture        for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to        IDR_W_RADL or IDR_N_LP.

    -   .

    -   intra random access point (IRAP) picture: A picture for which        all VCL NAL units have the same value of nal_unit_type in the        range of IDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive.

    -   .

    -   leading picture: A picture that precedes the associated IRAP        picture in output order.

    -   .

    -   output order: The order        ,        ,        in which the decoded pictures are output from the DPB.

    -   random access decodable leading (RADL) picture: A picture for        which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to RADL_NUT.

    -   

    -   random access skipped leading (RASL) picture: A picture for        which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to RASL_NUT.

    -   .

    -   step-wise temporal sublayer access (STSA) picture: A picture for        which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to STSA NUT.

    -   .

    -   trailing picture: A picture for which each VCL NAL unit has        nal_unit_type equal to TRAIL NUT.        -   NOTE—Trailing pictures associated with an IRAP or GDR            picture also follow the IRAP or GDR picture in decoding            order. Pictures that follow the associated IRAP or GDR            picture in output order and precede the associated IRAP or            GDR picture in decoding order are not allowed.

    -   .        -   ,            .

7.4.2.2 NAL Unit Header Semantics

nal_unit_type specifies the NAL unit type, i.e., the type of RBSP datastructure contained in the NAL unit as specified in Table 5.NAL units that have nal_unit_type in the range of UNSPEC_28 . . .UNSPEC_31, inclusive, for which semantics are not specified, shall notaffect the decoding process specified in this Specification.

-   -   NOTE 2—NAL unit types in the range of UNSPEC_28 . . . UNSPEC_31        may be used as determined by the application. No decoding        process for these values of nal_unit_type is specified in this        Specification. Since different applications might use these NAL        unit types for different purposes, particular care must be        exercised in the design of encoders that generate NAL units with        these nal_unit_type values, and in the design of decoders that        interpret the content of NAL units with these nal_unit_type        values. This Specification does not define any management for        these values. These nal_unit_type values might only be suitable        for use in contexts in which “collisions” of usage (i.e.,        different definitions of the meaning of the NAL unit content for        the same nal_unit_type value) are unimportant, or not possible,        or are managed—e.g., defined or managed in the controlling        application or transport specification, or by controlling the        environment in which bitstreams are distributed.        For purposes other than determining the amount of data in the        DUs of the bitstream (as specified in Annex C), decoders shall        ignore (remove from the bitstream and discard) the contents of        all NAL units that use reserved values of nal_unit_type.    -   NOTE 3—This requirement allows future definition of compatible        extensions to this Specification.

TABLE 5 NAL unit type codes and NAL unit type classes Name of Content ofNAL unit and RBSP syntax NAL unit nal_unit_type nal_unit_type structuretype class  0 TRAIL_NUT Coded slice of a trailing picture  

VCL slice_layer_rbsp( )  1 STSA_NUT Coded slice of an STSA picture  

VCL slice_layer_rbsp( )  2 RADL_NUT Coded slice of a RADL picture  

VCL slice_layer_rbsp( )  3 RASLNUT Coded slice of a RASL picture  

VCL slice_layer_rbsp( )  4 . . . 6 RSV_VCL_4 . . . Reserved non-IRAP VCLNAL unit types VCL RSV_VCL_6  7 IDR_W_RADL Coded slice of an IDR picture 

VCL  8 IDR_N_LP slice_layer_rbsp( )  9 CRA_NUT Coded slice of a CRApicture  

VCL silce_layer_rbsp( ) 10 GDR_NUT Coded slice of a GDR picture  

VCL slice_layer_rbsp( ) 11 RSV_IRAP_11 Reserved IRAP VCL NAL unit typesVCL 12 RSV_IRAP_12 13 DCI_NUT Decoding capability information non-VCLdecoding_capability_information_rbsp( ) 14 VPS_NUT Video parameter setnon-VCL video_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 15 SPS_NUT Sequence parameter setnon-VCL seq_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 16 PPS_NUT Picture parameter setnon-VCL pic_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 17 PREFIX_APS_NUT Adaptation parameterset non-VCL 18 SUFFIX_APS_NUT adaptation_parameter_set_rbsp( ) 19 PH_NUTPicture header non-VCL picture_header_rbsp( ) 20 AUD_NUT AU delimiternon-VCL access_unit_delimiter_rbsp( ) 21 EOS_NUT End of sequence non-VCLend_of_seq_rbsp( ) 22 EOB_NUT End of bitstream non-VCLend_of_bitstream_rbsp( ) 23 PREFIX_SEL_NUT Supplemental enhancementinformation non-VCL 24 SUFFIX_SEL_NUT sei_rbsp( ) 25 FD_NUT Filler datanon-VCL filler_data_rbsp( ) 26 RSV_NVCL_26 Reserved non-VCL NAL unittypes non-VCL 27 RSV_NVCL_27 28 . . . 31 UNSPEC_28 . . . Unspecifiednon-VCL NAL unit types non-VCL UNSPEC_31

-   -   NOTE 4— A clean random access (CRA) picture may have associated        RASL or RADL pictures present in the bitstream.    -   NOTE 5— An instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) picture having        nal_unit_type equal to IDR_N_LP does not have associated leading        pictures present in the bitstream. An IDR picture having        nal_unit_type equal to IDR_W_RADL does not have associated RASL        pictures present in the bitstream, but may have associated RADL        pictures in the bitstream.        The value of nal_unit_type shall be the same for all VCL NAL        units of a subpicture. A subpicture is referred to as having the        same NAL unit type as the VCL NAL units of the subpicture.        .        For VCL NAL units of any particular picture, the following        applies:    -   If mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 0, the value of        nal_unit_type shall be the same for all VCL NAL units of a        picture, and a picture or a PU is referred to as having the same        NAL unit type as the VCL NAL units of the picture or PU.    -   Otherwise (mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 1), the        picture shall have at least two subpictures and VCL NAL units of        the picture shall have exactly two different nal_unit_type        values as follows: the VCL NAL units of at least one subpicture        of the picture shall all have a particular value of        nal_unit_type equal to STSA NUT, RADL_NUT, RASL_NUT, IDR_W_RADL,        IDR_N_LP, or CRA_NUT, while the VCL NAL units of other        subpictures in the picture shall all have a different particular        value of nal_unit_type equal to TRAIL NUT, RADL_NUT, or        RASL_NUT.        It is a requirement of bitstream conformance that the following        constraints apply:    -   A trailing picture shall follow the associated IRAP or GDR        picture in output order.    -   .    -   When a picture is a leading picture of an IRAP picture, it shall        be a RADL or RASL picture.    -   ,        .    -   No RASL pictures shall be present in the bitstream that are        associated with an IDR picture.    -   .    -   No RADL pictures shall be present in the bitstream that are        associated with an IDR picture having nal_unit_type equal to        IDR_N_LP.        -   NOTE 6— It is possible to perform random access at the            position of an IRAP PU by discarding all PUs before the IRAP            PU (and to correctly decode the IRAP picture and all the            subsequent non-RASL pictures in decoding order), provided            each parameter set is available (either in the bitstream or            by external means not specified in this Specification) when            it is referenced.    -   .    -   Any picture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value        layerId, that precedes, in decoding order, an IRAP picture with        nuh_layer_id equal to layerId shall precede, in output order,        the IRAP picture and all its associated RADL pictures.    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   Any picture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value        layerId, that precedes, in decoding order, a GDR picture with        nuh_layer_id equal to layerId shall precede, in output order,        the GDR picture and all its associated pictures.    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   Any RASL picture associated with a CRA picture shall precede any        RADL picture associated with the CRA picture in output order.    -   .    -   Any RASL picture associated with a CRA picture shall follow, in        output order, any IRAP picture that precedes the CRA picture in        decoding order.    -   ,        ,        .    -   If field_seq_flag is equal to 0 and the current picture, with        nuh_layer_id equal to a particular value layerId, is a leading        picture associated with an IRAP picture, it shall precede, in        decoding order, all non-leading pictures that are associated        with the same IRAP picture. Otherwise, let picA and picB be the        first and the last leading pictures, in decoding order,        associated with an IRAP picture, respectively, there shall be at        most one non-leading picture with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId        preceding picA in decoding order, and there shall be no        non-leading picture with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId between        picA and picB in decoding order.    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .

7.4.3.4 Picture Parameter Set Semantics

mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag equal to 1 specifies that each picturereferring to the PPS has more than one VCL NAL unit and the VCL NALunits do not have the same value of nal_unit_type[[, and the picture isnot an IRAP picture]]. mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag equal to 0 specifiesthat each picture referring to the PPS has one or more VCL NAL units andthe VCL NAL units of each picture referring to the PPS have the samevalue of nal_unit_type.When no mixed nalu types in_pic constraint flag is equal to 1, the valueof mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag shall be equal to 0.[[For each slice with a nal_unit_type value nalUnitTypeA in the range ofIDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive, in a picture picA that also containsone or more slices with another value of nal_unit_type (i.e., the valueof mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag for the picture picA is equal to 1), thefollowing applies:—

-   -   The slice shall belong to a subpicture subpicA for which the        value of the corresponding subpic_treated_as_pic_flag[i] is        equal to 1.    -   The slice shall not belong to a subpicture of picA containing        VCL NAL units with nal_unit_type not equal to nalUnitTypeA.    -   If nalUnitTypeA is equal to CRA, for all the following PUs        following the current picture in the CLVS in decoding order and        in output order, neither RefPicList[0] nor RefPicList[1] of a        slice in subpicA in those PUs shall include any picture        preceding picA in decoding order in an active entry.    -   Otherwise (i.e., nalUnitTypeA is equal to IDR_W_RADL or        IDR_N_LP), for all the PUs in the CLVS following the current        picture in decoding order, neither RefPicList[0] nor        RefPicList[1] of a slice in subpicA in those PUs shall include        any picture preceding picA in decoding order in an active        entry.]]        -   NOTE 1— mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag equal to 1 indicates            that pictures referring to the PPS contain slices with            different NAL unit types, e.g., coded pictures originating            from a subpicture bitstream merging operation for which            encoders have to ensure matching bitstream structure and            further alignment of parameters of the original bitstreams.            One example of such alignments is as follows: When the value            of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is equal to 0 and            mixed_nalu_types_in_pic_flag is equal to 1, a picture            referring to the PPS cannot have slices with nal_unit_type            equal to IDR_W_RADL or IDR_N_LP.

7.4.3.7 Picture Header Structure Semantics

recovery_poc_cnt specifies the recovery point of decoded pictures inoutput order.

,

-   -           If the current picture is a GDR picture [[that is associated        with the PH]], and there is a picture picA that follows the        current GDR picture in decoding order in the CLVS that has        PicOrderCntVal equal to        [[the PicOrderCntVal of the current GDR picture plus the value        of recovery_poc_cnt]], the picture picA is referred to as the        recovery point picture. Otherwise, the first picture in output        order that has PicOrderCntVal greater than recoveryPointPocVal        [[the PicOrderCntVal of the current picture plus the value of        recovery_poc_cnt]] in the CLVS is referred to as the recovery        point picture. The recovery point picture shall not precede the        current GDR picture in decoding order.        . The value of recovery_poc_cnt shall be in the range of 0 to        MaxPicOrderCntLsb−1, inclusive.        [[When the current picture is a GDR picture, the variable        RpPicOrderCntVal is derived as follows:

RpPicOrderCntVal=PicOrderCntVal+recovery_poc_cnt  (81)]]

-   -   NOTE 2—When gdr_enabled_flag is equal to 1 and PicOrderCntVal of        the current picture is greater than or equal to        [[RpPicOrderCntVal]] of the associated GDR picture, the current        and subsequent decoded pictures in output order are exact match        to the corresponding pictures produced by starting the decoding        process from the previous IRAP picture, when present, preceding        the associated GDR picture in decoding order.

8.3.2 Decoding Process for Reference Picture Lists Construction

It is a requirement of bitstream conformance that the followingconstraints apply:

-   -   For each i equal to 0 or 1, num_ref_entries[i][RplsIdx[i]] shall        not be less than NumRefIdxActive[i].    -   The picture referred to by each active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] shall be present in the DPB and shall have        TemporalId less than or equal to that of the current picture.    -   The picture referred to by each entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] shall not be the current picture and shall have        non reference picture flag equal to 0.    -   An STRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] of a slice of a        picture and an LTRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] of        the same slice or a different slice of the same picture shall        not refer to the same picture.    -   There shall be no LTRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1]        for which the difference between the PicOrderCntVal of the        current picture and the PicOrderCntVal of the picture referred        to by the entry is greater than or equal to 2²⁴.    -   Let setOfRefPics be the set of unique pictures referred to by        all entries in RefPicList[0] that have the same nuh_layer_id as        the current picture and all entries in RefPicList[1] that have        the same nuh_layer_id as the current picture. The number of        pictures in setOfRefPics shall be less than or equal to        MaxDpbSize−1, inclusive, where MaxDpbSize is as specified in        clause A.4.2, and setOfRefPics shall be the same for all slices        of a picture.    -   When the current slice has nal_unit_type equal to STSA NUT,        there shall be no active entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1]        that has TemporalId equal to that of the current picture and        nuh_layer_id equal to that of the current picture.    -   When the current picture is a picture that follows, in decoding        order, an STSA picture that has TemporalId equal to that of the        current picture and nuh_layer_id equal to that of the current        picture, there shall be no picture that precedes the STSA        picture in decoding order, has TemporalId equal to that of the        current picture, and has nuh_layer_id equal to that of the        current picture included as an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1].    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   When the current picture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a        particular value layerId, is a CRA picture, there shall be no        picture referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes, in output order or decoding order,        any preceding IRAP picture with nuh_layer_id equal to layerId in        decoding order (when present).    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   When the current picture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a        particular value layerId, is not a RASL picture associated with        a CRA picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a GDR        picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, or a        recovering picture of a GDR picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 and nuh_layer_id equal to        layerId, there shall be no picture referred to by an active        entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that was generated by        the decoding process for generating unavailable reference        pictures.    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   When the current picture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a        particular value layerId, is not a CRA picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a picture that precedes,        in decoding order, the leading pictures associated with the same        CRA picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a        leading picture associated with a CRA picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, a GDR picture with        NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1, or a recovering picture        of a GDR picture with NoOutputBeforeRecoveryFlag equal to 1 and        nuh_layer_id equal to layerId, there shall be no picture        referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that        was generated by the decoding process for generating unavailable        reference pictures.    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   When the current picture is associated with an IRAP picture and        follows the IRAP picture in output order, there shall be no        picture referred to by an active entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] that precedes the associated IRAP picture in        output order or decoding order.    -   ,        .    -   When the current picture is associated with an IRAP picture,        follows the IRAP picture in output order, and follows, in both        decoding order and output order, the leading pictures associated        with the same IRAP picture, if any, there shall be no picture        referred to by an entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that        precedes the associated IRAP picture in output order or decoding        order.    -   ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,        .    -   When the current picture is a RADL picture, there shall be no        active entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] that is any of        the following:        -   A RASL picture        -   A picture that precedes the associated IRAP picture in            decoding order    -   ,        -   

        -       -   The picture referred to by each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] of a slice of the current picture shall be in the        same AU as the current picture.    -   The picture referred to by each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or        RefPicList[1] of a slice of the current picture shall be present        in the DPB and shall have nuh_layer_id less than that of the        current picture.    -   Each ILRP entry in RefPicList[0] or RefPicList[1] of a slice        shall be an active entry.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example video processing system1900 in which various techniques disclosed herein may be implemented.Various implementations may include some or all of the components of thesystem 1900. The system 1900 may include input 1902 for receiving videocontent. The video content may be received in a raw or uncompressedformat, e.g., 8 or 10 bit multi-component pixel values, or may be in acompressed or encoded format. The input 1902 may represent a networkinterface, a peripheral bus interface, or a storage interface. Examplesof network interface include wired interfaces such as Ethernet, passiveoptical network (PON), etc. and wireless interfaces such as wirelessfidelity (Wi-Fi) or cellular interfaces.

The system 1900 may include a coding component 1904 that may implementthe various coding or encoding methods described in the presentdisclosure. The coding component 1904 may reduce the average bitrate ofvideo from the input 1902 to the output of the coding component 1904 toproduce a coded representation of the video. The coding techniques aretherefore sometimes called video compression or video transcodingtechniques. The output of the coding component 1904 may be eitherstored, or transmitted via a communication connected, as represented bythe component 1906. The stored or communicated bitstream (or coded)representation of the video received at the input 1902 may be used bythe component 1908 for generating pixel values or displayable video thatis sent to a display interface 1910. The process of generatinguser-viewable video from the bitstream representation is sometimescalled video decompression. Furthermore, while certain video processingoperations are referred to as “coding” operations or tools, it will beappreciated that the coding tools or operations are used at an encoderand corresponding decoding tools or operations that reverse the resultsof the coding will be performed by a decoder.

Examples of a peripheral bus interface or a display interface mayinclude universal serial bus (USB) or high definition multimediainterface (HDMI) or Displayport, and so on. Examples of storageinterfaces include serial advanced technology attachment (SATA),peripheral component interconnect (PCI), integrated drive electronics(IDE) interface, and the like. The techniques described in the presentdisclosure may be embodied in various electronic devices such as mobilephones, laptops, smartphones or other devices that are capable ofperforming digital data processing and/or video display.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a video processing apparatus 3600. Theapparatus 3600 may be used to implement one or more of the methodsdescribed herein. The apparatus 3600 may be embodied in a smartphone,tablet, computer, Internet of Things (IoT) receiver, and so on. Theapparatus 3600 may include one or more processors 3602, one or morememories 3604 and video processing hardware 3606. The processor(s) 3602may be configured to implement one or more methods described in thepresent disclosure. The memory (memories) 3604 may be used for storingdata and code used for implementing the methods and techniques describedherein. The video processing hardware 3606 may be used to implement, inhardware circuitry, some techniques described in the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram that illustrates an example video codingsystem 100 that may utilize the techniques of this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 8 , video coding system 100 may include a source device110 and a destination device 120. Source device 110 generates encodedvideo data which may be referred to as a video encoding device.Destination device 120 may decode the encoded video data generated bysource device 110 which may be referred to as a video decoding device.

Source device 110 may include a video source 112, a video encoder 114,and an input/output (I/O) interface 116.

Video source 112 may include a source such as a video capture device, aninterface to receive video data from a video content provider, and/or acomputer graphics system for generating video data, or a combination ofsuch sources. The video data may comprise one or more pictures. Videoencoder 114 encodes the video data from video source 112 to generate abitstream. The bitstream may include a sequence of bits that form acoded representation of the video data. The bitstream may include codedpictures and associated data. The coded picture is a codedrepresentation of a picture. The associated data may include sequenceparameter sets, picture parameter sets, and other syntax structures. I/Ointerface 116 may include a modulator/demodulator (modem) and/or atransmitter. The encoded video data may be transmitted directly todestination device 120 via I/O interface 116 through network 130 a. Theencoded video data may also be stored onto a storage medium/server 130 bfor access by destination device 120.

Destination device 120 may include an I/O interface 126, a video decoder124, and a display device 122.

I/O interface 126 may include a receiver and/or a modem. I/O interface126 may acquire encoded video data from the source device 110 or thestorage medium/server 130 b. Video decoder 124 may decode the encodedvideo data. Display device 122 may display the decoded video data to auser. Display device 122 may be integrated with the destination device120, or may be external to destination device 120 which be configured tointerface with an external display device.

Video encoder 114 and video decoder 124 may operate according to a videocompression standard, such as the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)standard, Versatile Video Coding (VVM) standard and other current and/orfurther standards.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of video encoder 200,which may be video encoder 114 in the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 8 .

Video encoder 200 may be configured to perform any or all of thetechniques of this disclosure. In the example of FIG. 9 , video encoder200 includes a plurality of functional components. The techniquesdescribed in this disclosure may be shared among the various componentsof video encoder 200. In some examples, a processor may be configured toperform any or all of the techniques described in this disclosure.

The functional components of video encoder 200 may include a partitionunit 201, a prediction unit 202 which may include a mode select unit203, a motion estimation unit 204, a motion compensation unit 205 and anintra prediction unit 206, a residual generation unit 207, a transformunit 208, a quantization unit 209, an inverse quantization unit 210, aninverse transform unit 211, a reconstruction unit 212, a buffer 213, andan entropy encoding unit 214.

In other examples, video encoder 200 may include more, fewer, ordifferent functional components. In an example, prediction unit 202 mayinclude an intra block copy (IBC) unit. The IBC unit may performprediction in an IBC mode in which at least one reference picture is apicture where the current video block is located.

Furthermore, some components, such as motion estimation unit 204 andmotion compensation unit 205 may be highly integrated, but arerepresented in the example of FIG. 9 separately for purposes ofexplanation.

Partition unit 201 may partition a picture into one or more videoblocks. Video encoder 200 and video decoder 300 may support variousvideo block sizes.

Mode select unit 203 may select one of the coding modes, intra or inter,e.g., based on error results, and provide the resulting intra- orinter-coded block to a residual generation unit 207 to generate residualblock data and to a reconstruction unit 212 to reconstruct the encodedblock for use as a reference picture. In some example, Mode select unit203 may select a combination of intra and inter prediction (CIIP) modein which the prediction is based on an inter prediction signal and anintra prediction signal. Mode select unit 203 may also select aresolution for a motion vector (e.g., a sub-pixel or integer pixelprecision) for the block in the case of inter-prediction.

To perform inter prediction on a current video block, motion estimationunit 204 may generate motion information for the current video block bycomparing one or more reference frames from buffer 213 to the currentvideo block. Motion compensation unit 205 may determine a predictedvideo block for the current video block based on the motion informationand decoded samples of pictures from buffer 213 other than the pictureassociated with the current video block.

Motion estimation unit 204 and motion compensation unit 205 may performdifferent operations for a current video block, for example, dependingon whether the current video block is in an I slice, a P slice, or a Bslice.

In some examples, motion estimation unit 204 may perform uni-directionalprediction for the current video block, and motion estimation unit 204may search reference pictures of list 0 or list 1 for a reference videoblock for the current video block. Motion estimation unit 204 may thengenerate a reference index that indicates the reference picture in list0 or list 1 that contains the reference video block and a motion vectorthat indicates a spatial displacement between the current video blockand the reference video block. Motion estimation unit 204 may output thereference index, a prediction direction indicator, and the motion vectoras the motion information of the current video block. Motioncompensation unit 205 may generate the predicted video block of thecurrent block based on the reference video block indicated by the motioninformation of the current video block.

In other examples, motion estimation unit 204 may perform bi-directionalprediction for the current video block, motion estimation unit 204 maysearch the reference pictures in list 0 for a reference video block forthe current video block and may also search the reference pictures inlist 1 for another reference video block for the current video block.Motion estimation unit 204 may then generate reference indexes thatindicate the reference pictures in list 0 and list 1 containing thereference video blocks and motion vectors that indicate spatialdisplacements between the reference video blocks and the current videoblock. Motion estimation unit 204 may output the reference indexes andthe motion vectors of the current video block as the motion informationof the current video block. Motion compensation unit 205 may generatethe predicted video block of the current video block based on thereference video blocks indicated by the motion information of thecurrent video block.

In some examples, motion estimation unit 204 may output a full set ofmotion information for decoding processing of a decoder.

In some examples, motion estimation unit 204 may not output a full setof motion information for the current video. Rather, motion estimationunit 204 may signal the motion information of the current video blockwith reference to the motion information of another video block. Forexample, motion estimation unit 204 may determine that the motioninformation of the current video block is sufficiently similar to themotion information of a neighboring video block.

In one example, motion estimation unit 204 may indicate, in a syntaxstructure associated with the current video block, a value thatindicates to the video decoder 300 that the current video block has thesame motion information as another video block.

In another example, motion estimation unit 204 may identify, in a syntaxstructure associated with the current video block, another video blockand a motion vector difference (MVD). The motion vector differenceindicates a difference between the motion vector of the current videoblock and the motion vector of the indicated video block. The videodecoder 300 may use the motion vector of the indicated video block andthe motion vector difference to determine the motion vector of thecurrent video block.

As discussed above, video encoder 200 may predictively signal the motionvector. Two examples of predictive signaling techniques that may beimplemented by video encoder 200 include advanced motion vectorprediction (AMVP) and merge mode signaling.

Intra prediction unit 206 may perform intra prediction on the currentvideo block. When intra prediction unit 206 performs intra prediction onthe current video block, intra prediction unit 206 may generateprediction data for the current video block based on decoded samples ofother video blocks in the same picture. The prediction data for thecurrent video block may include a predicted video block and varioussyntax elements.

Residual generation unit 207 may generate residual data for the currentvideo block by subtracting (e.g., indicated by the minus sign) thepredicted video block(s) of the current video block from the currentvideo block. The residual data of the current video block may includeresidual video blocks that correspond to different sample components ofthe samples in the current video block.

In other examples, there may be no residual data for the current videoblock for the current video block, for example in a skip mode, andresidual generation unit 207 may not perform the subtracting operation.

Transform processing unit 208 may generate one or more transformcoefficient video blocks for the current video block by applying one ormore transforms to a residual video block associated with the currentvideo block.

After transform processing unit 208 generates a transform coefficientvideo block associated with the current video block, quantization unit209 may quantize the transform coefficient video block associated withthe current video block based on one or more quantization parameter (QP)values associated with the current video block.

Inverse quantization unit 210 and inverse transform unit 211 may applyinverse quantization and inverse transforms to the transform coefficientvideo block, respectively, to reconstruct a residual video block fromthe transform coefficient video block. Reconstruction unit 212 may addthe reconstructed residual video block to corresponding samples from oneor more predicted video blocks generated by the prediction unit 202 toproduce a reconstructed video block associated with the current blockfor storage in the buffer 213.

After reconstruction unit 212 reconstructs the video block, loopfiltering operation may be performed reduce video blocking artifacts inthe video block.

Entropy encoding unit 214 may receive data from other functionalcomponents of the video encoder 200. When entropy encoding unit 214receives the data, entropy encoding unit 214 may perform one or moreentropy encoding operations to generate entropy encoded data and outputa bitstream that includes the entropy encoded data.

Some embodiments of the disclosed technology include making a decisionor determination to enable a video processing tool or mode. In anexample, when the video processing tool or mode is enabled, the encoderwill use or implement the tool or mode in the processing of a block ofvideo, but may not necessarily modify the resulting bitstream based onthe usage of the tool or mode. That is, a conversion from the block ofvideo to the bitstream (or the bitstream representation) of the videowill use the video processing tool or mode when it is enabled based onthe decision or determination. In another example, when the videoprocessing tool or mode is enabled, the decoder will process thebitstream with the knowledge that the bitstream has been modified basedon the video processing tool or mode. That is, a conversion from thebitstream of the video to the block of video will be performed using thevideo processing tool or mode that was enabled based on the decision ordetermination.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of video decoder 300which may be video decoder 124 in the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 8 .

The video decoder 300 may be configured to perform any or all of thetechniques of this disclosure. In the example of FIG. 10 , the videodecoder 300 includes a plurality of functional components. Thetechniques described in this disclosure may be shared among the variouscomponents of the video decoder 300. In some examples, a processor maybe configured to perform any or all of the techniques described in thisdisclosure.

In the example of FIG. 10 , video decoder 300 includes an entropydecoding unit 301, a motion compensation unit 302, an intra predictionunit 303, an inverse quantization unit 304, an inverse transformationunit 305, and a reconstruction unit 306 and a buffer 307. Video decoder300 may, in some examples, perform a decoding pass generally reciprocalto the encoding pass described with respect to video encoder 200 (FIG. 9).

Entropy decoding unit 301 may retrieve an encoded bitstream. The encodedbitstream may include entropy coded video data (e.g., encoded blocks ofvideo data). Entropy decoding unit 301 may decode the entropy codedvideo data, and from the entropy decoded video data, motion compensationunit 302 may determine motion information including motion vectors,motion vector precision, reference picture list indexes, and othermotion information. Motion compensation unit 302 may, for example,determine such information by performing the AMVP and merge mode.

Motion compensation unit 302 may produce motion compensated blocks,possibly performing interpolation based on interpolation filters.Identifiers for interpolation filters to be used with sub-pixelprecision may be included in the syntax elements.

Motion compensation unit 302 may use interpolation filters as used byvideo encoder 200 during encoding of the video block to calculateinterpolated values for sub-integer pixels of a reference block. Motioncompensation unit 302 may determine the interpolation filters used byvideo encoder 200 according to received syntax information and use theinterpolation filters to produce predictive blocks.

Motion compensation unit 302 may use some of the syntax information todetermine sizes of blocks used to encode frame(s) and/or slice(s) of theencoded video sequence, partition information that describes how eachmacroblock of a picture of the encoded video sequence is partitioned,modes indicating how each partition is encoded, one or more referenceframes (and reference frame lists) for each inter-encoded block, andother information to decode the encoded video sequence.

Intra prediction unit 303 may use intra prediction modes for examplereceived in the bitstream to form a prediction block from spatiallyadjacent blocks. Inverse quantization unit 303 inverse quantizes, i.e.,de-quantizes, the quantized video block coefficients provided in thebitstream and decoded by entropy decoding unit 301. Inverse transformunit 303 applies an inverse transform.

Reconstruction unit 306 may sum the residual blocks with thecorresponding prediction blocks generated by motion compensation unit302 or intra-prediction unit 303 to form decoded blocks. If desired, adeblocking filter may also be applied to filter the decoded blocks inorder to remove blockiness artifacts. The decoded video blocks are thenstored in buffer 307, which provides reference blocks for subsequentmotion compensation/intra prediction and also produces decoded video forpresentation on a display device.

A listing of solutions preferred by some embodiments is provided next.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 1).

1. A video processing method (e.g., method 700 shown in FIG. 7 ),comprising: performing (702) a conversion between a video comprising oneor more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and a codedrepresentation of the video, wherein the coded representation conformsto a format rule that specifies that the one or more pictures comprisingone or more subpictures are included in the coded representationaccording to network abstraction layer (NAL) units, wherein a type NALunit is indicated in the coded representation includes a coded slice ofa particular type of picture or a coded slice of a particular type of asubpicture.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 2).

2. A video processing method, comprising: performing a conversionbetween a video comprising one or more pictures comprising one or moresubpictures and a coded representation of the video, wherein the codedrepresentation conforms to a format rule that specifies that twoneighboring subpictures with different network abstraction layer unittypes will have a same indication of subpictures being treated aspictures flag.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., items 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 1, 11, 12).

3. A video processing method, comprising: performing a conversionbetween a video comprising one or more pictures comprising one or moresubpictures and a coded representation of the video, wherein the codedrepresentation conforms to a format rule that defines an order of afirst type of subpicture and a second type of subpicture, wherein thefirst subpicture is a trailing subpicture or a leading subpicture or arandom access skipped leading (RASL) subpicture type and the secondsubpicture is of the RASL type or a random access decodable leading(RADL) type or an instantaneous decoding refresh (IDR) type or a gradualdecoding refresh (GDR) type subpicture.

4. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that thetrailing subpicture follows an associated intra random access point or aGDR subpicture in an output order.

5. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that when apicture is a leading picture of an intra random access point picture,the nal_unit_type value for all network abstraction layer units in thepicture are equal to RADL_NUT or RASL_NUT.

6. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture that is a leading subpicture of an IRAP subpicture must alsobe a RADL or RASL subpicture.

7. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture that is an RASL subpicture is disallowed to be associatedwith an IDR subpicture.

8. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture having a same layer id and a subpicture index as an IRAPsubpicture must precede, in an output order, the IRAP subpicture and allassociated RADL subpictures thereof.

9. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture having a same layer id and a subpicture index as an GDRsubpicture must precede, in an output order, the GDR subpicture and allassociated RADL subpictures thereof.

10. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture that is an RASL subpicture associated with a CRA subpictureprecedes in an output order all RADL subpictures associated with the CRAsubpicture.

11. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture that is an RASL subpicture associated with a CRA subpictureprecedes in an output order all IRAP subpictures associated with the CRAsubpicture.

12. The method of solution 3, wherein the rule specifies that a givensubpicture is a leading subpicture with an IRAP subpicture, then thegive subpicture precedes, in a decoding order, all non-leadingsubpictures associated with the IRAP picture.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., items 8, 14, 15).

13. A video processing method, comprising: performing a conversionbetween a video comprising one or more pictures comprising one or moresubpictures and a coded representation of the video, wherein the codedrepresentation conforms to a format rule that defines a condition underwhich a first type of subpicture is allowed or disallowed to occur witha second type of subpicture.

14. The method of solution 13, wherein the rule specifies that, in casethat there is an IDR subpicture of network abstraction layer typeIDR_N_LP, then the coded representation is disallowed to have an RADPsubpicture.

15. The method of solution 13, wherein the rule disallows including apicture in a reference list of a picture that comprises a step-wisetemporal sublayer access (STSA) subpicture such that the picturepreceding a picture comprising the STSA subpicture.

16. The method of solution 13, wherein the rule disallows including apicture in a reference list of a picture that comprises an intra randomaccess point (IRAP) subpicture such that the picture preceding a picturecomprising the IRAP subpicture.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., items 21-26).

17. A method of video processing, comprising: performing a conversionbetween a video comprising one or more video pictures comprising one ormore subpictures and a coded representation of the video; wherein thecoded representation comprises one or more layers of video pictures inan order according to a rule.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 21).

18. The method of solution 17, wherein the rule specifies that the rulespecifies that a subpicture that is not a leading picture of a typeintra random access point cannot have a random access decodable leading(RADL) or a random access skipped leading (RASL) subpicture type.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 22).

19. The method of any of solutions 17-18, wherein the rule specifiesthat a first subpicture that precedes a second subpicture in a recoverypoint picture in a decoding order, where the first subpicture and thesecond subpicture belong to a same layer and have a same subpictureindex, must also precede the second subpicture in an output order.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 23).

20. The method of any of solutions 17-19, wherein the rule specifiesthat a video picture referred to by a reference picture list thatprecedes, in an output order or a decoding order, a clean random access(CRA) subpicture from having an intra random access point subpicturethat has a same layer id and subpicture index as the CRA subpicture.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 24).

21. The method of any of solutions 17-20, wherein the rule specifiesthat when a current subpicture follows an intra random access point(IRAP) subpicture having a same value of nuh_layer_id and a same valueof subpicture index in both decoding and output order, then no picturereferred to by an active entry in a reference picture list is allowed toprecedes a picture containing that IRAP subpicture in an output order ora decoding order.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 25).

22. The method of any of solutions 17-21, wherein the rule specifiesthat when the current subpicture follows an intra random access pointIRAP subpicture having a same value of nuh_layer_id and a same value ofsubpicture index and the leading subpictures associated with that IRAPsubpicture in both a decoding and an output order, there shall be nopicture referred to by an entry in a reference picture list thatprecedes a picture containing that IRAP subpicture in output order ordecoding order.

The following solutions show example embodiments of techniques discussedin the previous section (e.g., item 26).

23. The method of any of solutions 17-22, wherein the rule specifiesthat when a current subpicture, with nuh_layer_id equal to a particularvalue layerId and a subpicture index equal to a particular valuesubpicIdx, is a RADL subpicture, there shall be no active entry in areference picture list that is any of (a) a. a picture with nuh_layer_idequal to layerId containing a RASL subpicture with subpicture indexequal to subpicIdx, or (b) a picture that precedes a picture containingthe associated IRAP subpicture in the decoding order.

24. The method of any of solutions 1 to 23, wherein the conversioncomprises encoding the video into the coded representation.

25. The method of any of solutions 1 to 23, wherein the conversioncomprises decoding the coded representation to generate pixel values ofthe video.

26. A video decoding apparatus comprising a processor configured toimplement a method recited in one or more of solutions 1 to 25.

27. A video encoding apparatus comprising a processor configured toimplement a method recited in one or more of solutions 1 to 25.

28. A computer program product having computer code stored thereon, thecode, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement amethod recited in any of solutions 1 to 25.

29. A method, apparatus or system described in the present disclosure.

In the solutions described herein, an encoder may conform to the formatrule by producing a coded representation according to the format rule.In the solutions described herein, a decoder may use the format rule toparse syntax elements in the coded representation with the knowledge ofpresence and absence of syntax elements according to the format rule toproduce decoded video.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for an example method 1100 of videoprocessing. Operation 1102 includes performing a conversion between avideo comprising one or more pictures comprising one or more subpicturesand a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to a formatrule that specifies that a subpicture cannot be a random access type ofsubpicture in response to the subpicture not being a leading subpictureof an intra random access point subpicture, and wherein the leadingsubpicture precedes the intra random access point subpicture in outputorder.

In some embodiments of method 1100, the intra random access pointsubpicture is a subpicture for which all video coding layer (VCL)network abstraction layer (NAL) units have a same value of NAL unit typein the range of IDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive. In some embodiments ofmethod 1100, the random access type of subpicture includes a randomaccess decodable leading subpicture. In some embodiments of method 1100,the random access decodable leading subpicture is a subpicture for whicheach video coding layer (VCL) network abstraction layer (NAL) unit hasNAL unit type equal to RADL_NUT. In some embodiments of method 1100, therandom access type of subpicture includes a random access skippedleading subpicture. In some embodiments of method 1100, the randomaccess skipped leading subpicture is a subpicture for which each videocoding layer (VCL) network abstraction layer (NAL) has NAL unit typeequal to RASL_NUT.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for an example method 1200 of videoprocessing. Operation 1202 includes performing a conversion between avideo comprising one or more pictures comprising a plurality ofsubpictures and a bitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conformsto a format rule that specifies that a first subpicture precedes asecond subpicture in a recovery point picture in an output order inresponse to: the first subpicture and the second picture having a samelayer identifier of a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit and a samesubpicture index, and the first subpicture preceding the secondsubpicture in a decoding order.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart for an example method 1300 of videoprocessing. Operation 1302 includes performing a conversion between avideo comprising a current picture comprising a current subpicturecomprising a current slice and a bitstream of the video, wherein thebitstream conforms to a format rule, wherein the format rule specifiesan order by which pictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein theformat rule disallows an entry in a reference picture list of thecurrent slice from including a first picture that precedes, according toa first order, a second picture that precedes, according to a secondorder, the current picture, wherein the second picture comprises anintra random access point subpicture having a same layer identifier of anetwork abstraction unit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as thecurrent subpicture, and wherein the current subpicture is a clean randomaccess subpicture.

In some embodiments of method 1300, the first order comprises a decodingorder or an output order. In some embodiments of method 1300, the secondorder comprises a decoding order. In some embodiments of method 1300,the reference picture list includes a List 0 reference picture list. Insome embodiments of method 1300, the reference picture list includes aList 1 reference picture list. In some embodiments of method 1300, theclean random access subpicture is an intra random access pointsubpicture for which each video coding layer (VCL) NAL unit has NAL unittype equal to CRA_NUT.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart for an example method 1400 of videoprocessing. Operation 1402 includes performing a conversion between avideo comprising a current picture comprising a current subpicturecomprising a current slice and a bitstream of the video, wherein thebitstream conforms to a format rule, wherein the format rule specifiesan order by which pictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein theformat rule disallows an active entry in a reference picture list of thecurrent slice from including a first picture that precedes a secondpicture according to a first order, wherein the second picture comprisesan intra random access point subpicture having a same layer identifierof a network abstraction unit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index asthe current subpicture, and wherein the current subpicture follows theintra random access point subpicture in a second order.

In some embodiments of method 1400, the first order comprises a decodingorder or an output order. In some embodiments of method 1400, the activeentry corresponds to an entry that is available for use as a referenceindex in an inter prediction of the current slice. In some embodimentsof method 1400, the second order comprises a decoding order and anoutput order. In some embodiments of method 1400, the reference picturelist includes a List 0 reference picture list. In some embodiments ofmethod 1400, the reference picture list includes a List 1 referencepicture list.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart for an example method 1500 of videoprocessing. Operation 1502 includes performing a conversion between avideo comprising a current picture comprising a current subpicturecomprising a current slice and a bitstream of the video, wherein thebitstream conforms to a format rule, wherein the format rule specifiesan order by which pictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein theformat rule disallows an entry in a reference picture list of thecurrent slice from including a first picture that precedes a secondpicture according to a first order or a second order, wherein the secondpicture comprises an intra random access point subpicture having zero ormore associated leading subpictures and having a same layer identifierof a network abstraction unit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index asthe current subpicture, and wherein the current subpicture follows theintra random access point subpicture and the zero or more associatedleading subpictures in the first order and the second order.

In some embodiments of method 1500, the first order comprises a decodingorder. In some embodiments of method 1500, the second order comprises anoutput order. In some embodiments of method 1500, the reference picturelist includes a List 0 reference picture list. In some embodiments ofmethod 1500, the reference picture list includes a List 1 referencepicture list.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart for an example method 1600 of videoprocessing. Operation 1602 includes performing a conversion between avideo comprising a current picture comprising a current subpicturecomprising a current slice and a bitstream of the video, wherein thebitstream conforms to a format rule that specifies that in response tothe current subpicture being a random access decodable leadingsubpicture, an active entry of a reference picture list of the currentslice is disallowed from including any one or more of: a first pictureincluding a random access skipped leading subpicture having a samesubpicture index as that of the current subpicture, and a second picturethat precedes a third picture including an intra random access pointsubpicture associated with the random access decodable leadingsubpicture in a decoding order.

In some embodiments of method 1600, the active entry corresponds to anentry that is available for use as a reference index in an interprediction of the current slice. In some embodiments of method 1600, thereference picture list includes a List 0 reference picture list. In someembodiments of method 1600, the reference picture list includes a List 1reference picture list.

In some embodiments of method(s) 1100-1600, the performing theconversion comprising encoding the video into the bitstream. In someembodiments of method(s) 1100-1600, the performing the conversioncomprises generating the bitstream from the video, and the methodfurther comprises storing the bitstream in a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium. In some embodiments of method(s)1100-1600, the performing the conversion comprises decoding the videofrom the bitstream.

In some embodiments, a video decoding apparatus comprises a processorconfigured to implement operations described for method(s) 1100-1600. Insome embodiments, a video encoding apparatus comprises a processorconfigured to implement operations described for method(s) 1100-1600. Insome embodiments, a computer program product has computer instructionsstored thereon, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causesthe processor to implement operations described for method(s) 1100-1600.In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumstores a bitstream generated according to the operations described formethod(s) 1100-1600. In some embodiments, a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium stores instructions that causes aprocessor to implement operations described for method(s) 1100-1600. Insome embodiments, a method of bitstream generation, comprises:generating a bitstream of a video according to operations described formethod(s) 1100-1600, and storing the bitstream on a computer-readableprogram medium. Some embodiments include a method, an apparatus, abitstream generated according to a disclosed method or a system asdescribed in the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the term “video processing” may refer tovideo encoding, video decoding, video compression or videodecompression. For example, video compression algorithms may be appliedduring conversion from pixel representation of a video to acorresponding bitstream representation or vice versa. The bitstreamrepresentation of a current video block may, for example, correspond tobits that are either co-located or spread in different places within thebitstream, as is defined by the syntax. For example, a macroblock may beencoded in terms of transformed and coded error residual values and alsousing bits in headers and other fields in the bitstream. Furthermore,during conversion, a decoder may parse a bitstream with the knowledgethat some fields may be present, or absent, based on the determination,as is described in the above solutions. Similarly, an encoder maydetermine that certain syntax fields are or are not to be included andgenerate the coded representation accordingly by including or excludingthe syntax fields from the coded representation.

The disclosed and other solutions, examples, embodiments, modules andthe functional operations described in this disclosure can beimplemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software,firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in thisdisclosure and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of oneor more of them. The disclosed and other embodiments can be implementedas one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules ofcomputer program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium forexecution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.The computer readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, amachine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition ofmatter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combinationof one or more them. The term “data processing apparatus” encompassesall apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including byway of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multipleprocessors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition tohardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computerprogram in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, aprotocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or acombination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is anartificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical,optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encodeinformation for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can bedeployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module,component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to afile in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in amarkup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program inquestion, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store oneor more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer programcan be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computersthat are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this disclosure can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory ora random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computerneed not have such devices. Computer readable media suitable for storingcomputer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatilememory, media and memory devices, including by way of examplesemiconductor memory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal harddisks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and compact disc,read-only memory (CD ROM) and digital versatile disc read-only memory(DVD-ROM) disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, orincorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

While the present disclosure contains many specifics, these should notbe construed as limitations on the scope of any subject matter or ofwhat may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may bespecific to particular embodiments of particular techniques. Certainfeatures that are described in the present disclosure in the context ofseparate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a singleembodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in thecontext of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multipleembodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover,although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. Moreover, the separation of various system components in theembodiments described in the present disclosure should not be understoodas requiring such separation in all embodiments.

Only a few implementations and examples are described and otherimplementations, enhancements and variations can be made based on whatis described and illustrated in the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of video processing, comprising:performing a conversion between a video comprising one or more picturescomprising one or more subpictures and a bitstream of the video, whereinthe bitstream conforms to a format rule that specifies that a subpicturecannot be a random access decodable leading subpicture or a randomaccess skipped leading subpicture when the subpicture is not a leadingsubpicture of an intra random access point subpicture, and wherein theleading subpicture precedes the intra random access point subpicture inoutput order.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intra random accesspoint subpicture is a subpicture for which all video coding layer (VCL)network abstraction layer (NAL) units have a same value of NAL unit typein a range of IDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive, wherein the randomaccess decodable leading subpicture is a subpicture for which each VCLNAL unit has NAL unit type equal to RADL_NUT, and wherein the randomaccess skipped leading subpicture is a subpicture for which each videocoding layer (VCL) network abstraction layer (NAL) has NAL unit typeequal to RASL_NUT.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the format rulefurther specifies that a first subpicture precedes a second subpicturein a recovery point picture in an output order in response to: the firstsubpicture and the second subpicture having a same layer identifier of anetwork abstraction layer (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index, andthe first subpicture preceding the second subpicture in a decodingorder.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the format rule specifies anorder by which pictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein when acurrent subpicture is a clean random access subpicture, the format ruledisallows an entry in a reference picture list of a current slice fromincluding a first picture that precedes, according to a first order, asecond picture that precedes, according to a second order, a currentpicture, wherein the second picture comprises an intra random accesspoint subpicture having a same layer identifier of a network abstractionunit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as the current subpicture,and wherein the clean random access subpicture is an intra random accesspoint subpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal toCRA_NUT.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first order comprises adecoding order or an output order, wherein the second order comprisesthe decoding order, and wherein the reference picture list includes aList 0 reference picture list or a List 1 reference picture list.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the format rule specifies an order by whichpictures are indicated in the bitstream, wherein the format ruledisallows an active entry in a reference picture list of a current slicefrom including a first picture that precedes a second picture accordingto a first order, wherein the second picture comprises an intra randomaccess point subpicture having a same layer identifier of a networkabstraction unit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as a currentsubpicture, and wherein the current subpicture follows the intra randomaccess point subpicture in a second order.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the first order comprises a decoding order or an output order,and the second order comprises the decoding order and the output order,wherein the active entry corresponds to an entry that is available foruse as a reference index in an inter prediction of the current slice,and wherein the reference picture list includes a List 0 referencepicture list or a List 1 reference picture list.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein the format rule specifies an order by which pictures areindicated in the bitstream, wherein the format rule disallows an entryin a reference picture list of a current slice from including a firstpicture that precedes a second picture according to a first order or asecond order, wherein the second picture comprises an intra randomaccess point subpicture having zero or more associated leadingsubpictures and having a same layer identifier of a network abstractionunit (NAL) unit and a same subpicture index as a current subpicture, andwherein the current subpicture follows the intra random access pointsubpicture and the zero or more associated leading subpictures in thefirst order and the second order.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thefirst order comprises a decoding order, and the second order comprisesan output order, and wherein the reference picture list includes a List0 reference picture list or a List 1 reference picture list.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the format rule further specifies that inresponse to a current subpicture being a random access decodable leadingsubpicture, an active entry of a reference picture list of a currentslice is disallowed from including any one or more of: a first pictureincluding a random access skipped leading subpicture having a samesubpicture index as that of the current subpicture, and a second picturethat precedes a third picture including an intra random access pointsubpicture associated with the random access decodable leadingsubpicture in a decoding order.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein theactive entry corresponds to an entry that is available for use as areference index in an inter prediction of the current slice, and whereinthe reference picture list includes a List 0 reference picture list or aList 1 reference picture list.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein theperforming the conversion comprising encoding the video into thebitstream.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing theconversion comprises decoding the video from the bitstream.
 14. Anapparatus for processing video data comprising a processor and anon-transitory memory with instructions thereon, wherein theinstructions upon execution by the processor, cause the processor to:perform a conversion between a video comprising one or more picturescomprising one or more subpictures and a bitstream of the video, whereinthe bitstream conforms to a format rule that specifies that a subpicturecannot be a random access decodable leading subpicture or a randomaccess skipped leading subpicture when the subpicture is not a leadingsubpicture of an intra random access point subpicture, and wherein theleading subpicture precedes the intra random access point subpicture inoutput order.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the intra randomaccess point subpicture is a subpicture for which all video coding layer(VCL) network abstraction layer (NAL) units have a same value of NALunit type in a range of IDR_W_RADL to CRA_NUT, inclusive, wherein therandom access decodable leading subpicture is a subpicture for whicheach VCL NAL unit has NAL unit type equal to RADL_NUT, and wherein therandom access skipped leading subpicture is a subpicture for which eachvideo coding layer (VCL) network abstraction layer (NAL) has NAL unittype equal to RASL_NUT.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein theformat rule further specifies that a first subpicture precedes a secondsubpicture in a recovery point picture in an output order in responseto: the first subpicture and the second subpicture having a same layeridentifier of a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit and a samesubpicture index, and the first subpicture preceding the secondsubpicture in a decoding order.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinthe format rule specifies an order by which pictures are indicated inthe bitstream, wherein when a current subpicture is a clean randomaccess subpicture, the format rule disallows an entry in a referencepicture list of a current slice from including a first picture thatprecedes, according to a first order, a second picture that precedes,according to a second order, a current picture, wherein the secondpicture comprises an intra random access point subpicture having a samelayer identifier of a network abstraction unit (NAL) unit and a samesubpicture index as the current subpicture, and wherein the clean randomaccess subpicture is an intra random access point subpicture for whicheach VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to CRA_NUT; wherein the firstorder comprises a decoding order or an output order, wherein the secondorder comprises the decoding order, and wherein the reference picturelist includes a List 0 reference picture list or a List 1 referencepicture list.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the format rulespecifies an order by which pictures are indicated in the bitstream,wherein the format rule disallows an active entry in a reference picturelist of a current slice from including a first picture that precedes asecond picture according to a first order, wherein the second picturecomprises an intra random access point subpicture having a same layeridentifier of a network abstraction unit (NAL) unit and a samesubpicture index as a current subpicture, and wherein the currentsubpicture follows the intra random access point subpicture in a secondorder; wherein the first order comprises a decoding order or an outputorder, and the second order comprises the decoding order and the outputorder, wherein the active entry corresponds to an entry that isavailable for use as a reference index in an inter prediction of thecurrent slice, and wherein the reference picture list includes a List 0reference picture list or a List 1 reference picture list.
 19. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructionsthat cause a processor to: perform a conversion between a videocomprising one or more pictures comprising one or more subpictures and abitstream of the video, wherein the bitstream conforms to a format rulethat specifies that a subpicture cannot be a random access decodableleading subpicture or a random access skipped leading subpicture whenthe subpicture is not a leading subpicture of an intra random accesspoint subpicture, and wherein the leading subpicture precedes the intrarandom access point subpicture in output order.
 20. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium storing a bitstream of a video whichis generated by a method performed by a video processing apparatus,wherein the method comprises: generating the bitstream of the videocomprising one or more pictures comprising one or more subpictures,wherein the bitstream conforms to a format rule that specifies that asubpicture cannot be a random access decodable leading subpicture or arandom access skipped leading subpicture when the subpicture is not aleading subpicture of an intra random access point subpicture, andwherein the leading subpicture precedes the intra random access pointsubpicture in output order.